Hi, everyone! My name is Alex and I studied abroad with the Pitt in London program in the summer of 2022. Pitt in London is one of our university’s Panther Programs, which are programs designed by the Global Experiences staff along with faculty, that are comprised primarily of Pitt students. As an English Literature and Writing double major, I found that the Pitt in London program was a straightforward way to take the classes I was interested in and earn Pitt credit for them! While there were a range of classes to choose from, I decided on taking “Post-War Pop Culture in Britain” and “Writing the City: London,” as those related to my major and counted towards requirements on my transcript. Although I was already excited about the material, I could not have imagined the kind of immersive learning I would be experiencing; both of my professors emphasized the importance of engaging with the local community, so many of our lessons were supported with excursions to monuments or famous areas of the city. For example, in my Pop Culture class, we did a scavenger hunt in the neighborhood of Soho to find spots of historical significance, such as murals, shops, and restaurants. In my Writing the City class, we took a field trip to Hyde Park and walked the Thames River, where we practiced exercises in describing our surroundings in prose. These experiential lessons not only reinforced the lessons and discussions we had in the classroom, but gave me a greater appreciation of London, its history, and its culture. Learning in the classroom is great, but taking the time to see what we had been talking about in person was something I never thought I would have the chance to do. Before participating in the program, I also received a scholarship, which lessened my financial anxiety and helped me focus on what mattered—my academic pursuits. As a first-generation student, college itself—let alone studying abroad—was foreign to me, but it was with the support of the staff at the Pitt Global Experiences Office and CEA CAPA that I was able to take such a transformative program. In London, I formed lasting connections, made a new best friend, improved my writing and academic skills, and saw places I always dreamed of. (And became a Global Experiences Ambassador to help others do the same!) This was an experience I will never forget. If you have any questions about Panther Programs, you can schedule a general advising appointment with me or one of my fellow Global Ambassadors, or reach out to one of the Panther Program Managers, Kelsey Sobecki and Lauren Perri!
