This was an absolute whirlwind of a program. It was so incredibly fast-paced, with multiple engagements for us to go to as a group every single day, and so many knowledgeable and driven people at the top of their respective fields for us to take notes from and discuss with. It was a very draining experience. That being said, it was also incredibly fun. I do genuinely believe that the choosing to study abroad and be a part of the Pitt in Romania program was the best single decision that I’ve made throughout college.

The college experience is dependent on your time management ability, and that was pushed to the limit on this program. But it’s only in the margins of our abilities that we force ourselves to grow and change for the better. Being face-to-face with so many high-level state figures, bureaucrats, and politicians also gave me a lot of perspective as to how I’d want to continue in my professional life and what type of work I’d want to do. Getting to see the perspectives of those in the positions that you’d want to be in and see how they analyze and present the information prescient to their work is incredibly eye-opening.

I’m so glad that I took the chance to study abroad, and would highly encourage all other students, particulary those in the Frederick Honors College, to do the same. Moreso than those who we met as part of our academic engagements, my fellow students on the program were incredible to be around, hear from, and learn from. We have all made friends that we will cherish for years to come, and I’m so glad that we were all able to cultivate an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect, and friendship. Not to mention all of the fun that that allowed us to have together. These relationshups could only be cultivated and these places could only be visited all together on a study abroad program, and the best way to find them is to take the chance to go on one yourself.