My name is Mikaela Smigo and I am majoring in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Economics. Beyond the classroom, I have been an active member in Women in Business and am the business manager of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), a club my roommates and I started. I have also completed a market research internship with Brite Labs in the fall semester and completed Pitt Business’s LEADS program this spring.
Back home in West Chester, PA, I am a server at a local breakfast restaurant. During high school, I was a dance teacher, played tennis for my school’s team, and was involved in NHS and DECA. In my free time, I love to read, write, and listen to music. During the long journey to Vietnam, I am definitely going to immerse myself in these activities!
Vietnam was a top choice to me for a variety of reasons, the foremost being that it’s a destination that I’ve always been interested in visiting. Beyond this, as I am exploring different industries I would potentially like to work in, I am drawn to the program’s focus on sustainable development. This is an industry I can see myself involved in the future, so getting firsthand, international exposure to different companies in sustainable development is exciting for me. Academically and professionally, I believe this opportunity in Vietnam will help me to grow as a business student, especially as I expand my experiences to diversify myself as a candidate for future positions.
Personally, I am excited to go to Vietnam because I have always been intrigued by Asian cultures. I have family in the Philippines and have visited a few times, each visit making me more attached to my roots and the people there. I have also been to Japan, which was an unforgettable experience for countless reasons. With this visit to Vietnam, I am eager to identify the differences and similarities across the different Asian cultures I have experienced, mostly out of curiosity, but also in the sense that I want to better understand the variety of people and cultures our world has to offer.