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Dedra Totin

Bio Summary
Cohort Year: 
2011
Home Institution: 
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Heinz Programming Area: 
Economic Opportunity
Study Abroad Country: 
England
International Experience

Dedra’s experience as a whole was entirely eye-opening and educational.  She had many difficulties mentally with the transition of living in an entirely different country and not knowing a soul before going.  The realization of needing to be more independent came to be when she knew there was no other choice.  She learned how to be a young independent and strong woman.  As the time progressed, she realized that there was no task too small and if she wanted to achieve it, she would.  Her internship with Parliament opened doors that she did not even know existed.  She was able to see what she did and did not like to see herself doing in her career.  Prior to this trip, she had aspirations for working with a politician.  However, after working with a Member of Parliament, she realized that is not what she strives to do, but more so the helping aspect of the job.  She wants to hear a problem and try her best to find ways to solve it.  What helped her become more independent was doing things on her own rather than waiting on people to help assist her or group with her to do simple tasks and site seeing, she just simply went by herself.  This was a great learning experience because it not only taught her how to better navigate but also that independence she has always wanted to achieve but would not have otherwise without this traveling experience.  Through her traveling abroad, she has learned the that there are so many more cultures and sites in which she is anxious to visit, perhaps in a job/humanitarian setting.  

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