Interview with Gabby Gomez Rendon

Gabby Gomez Rendon is an MBA international student from Mexico. She is also a graduate assistant for the Center for Women and Entrepreneurship at Chatham University. Visit this page to learn more about different degrees and programs Chatham offers to international students.

  1. What is your typical day at Chatham?

I don’t live on campus because I live with my husband and my son. However, I work half-time at the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship. So the morning are similar to any mom’s life: I wake up first, make breakfast, and wake my son up to get ready and have breakfast with my husband and me. After he takes the bus to school, I jump into the shower and get ready for my day.

Three times a week I go to the Center for Women’s Entrepreneur at Chatham Eastside to work. I am a graduate marketing assistant for the center and my main responsibilities are related to the promotion of events on digital platforms, in newsletters, and through our partners. I also help in the logistics of the many training events that we have, and many times I am the first contact the clients have with the center. Then I go back home to take care of my son after school and prepare dinner for my family. As we are a Latin family, we still haven’t adapted to the American meal schedule, so we usually have a big breakfast early in the morning, our lunch is just a snack, and we have a late lunch (a complete supper to be exact) around 3 or 4, and our dinner is light. In the afternoon I usually work on my assignments while my son does his homework.

Twice a week I go to the Shadyside campus for my MBA classes from 6 to 8:30pm, and when I arrive home I make a light dinner and put my son to sleep. After that, I have time to talk about the day and about what I learned in my classes with my husband. On the days I don’t go to the center in the morning, I usually do my readings and my assignments for my classes and also do house chores. Sometimes I work at the center for special events in the evening or on Saturday and I would just adapt a little bit my schedule during the week to have at least two days to study.

  1. What are new things you learn from living in Pittsburgh, studying at Chatham, etc.?

A lot of things. First of all, even I had a very good English level, I am very glad that I did the last level of the English Language Program at Chatham University prior to start the MBA. I have a scientific background and I did not have experience writing papers and essays in English, so the learning I got from the Writing and Grammar classes with Dr. Linh Phung and Ms. Alina Volper were gold to me. Honestly, without those two classes, I would probably be having very different grades.

Second, I was a little afraid of the environment because everybody had told me that there was no diversity in Pittsburgh and I could end up feeling like not fitting. To my surprise, at least at Chatham, it is a pretty good diverse environment which is also super open and respectful of other cultures and nationalities. In class and at the center I just feel like a fish in water. One thing that I have learned for living in here is to speak up. I used to be quiet even when I was uncomfortable with an assignment or a deadline. It was very hard for me to said no even if I had to struggle later on, but the relationship between professors and students is so open that it gives you the confidence to speak up and ask for feedback. I like this way very much. Some other things that I learned here in Pittsburgh are a lot of outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking, and skiing. All very cool!

  1. What do you like most at Chatham?

First the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, I love my job, my boss, my colleagues and the projects we make. Second, the friends I have made at the MBA and at the Center, they are friends for life. Second, I love Prof. Pearson. I decide to start the MBA here after my interview with him. He is a great man and an amazing mentor. I like my advisors very much: Prof. Glyde is very cool. However, I miss Dr. Chung very much. She was the best. And I love the Summer Camp that Chatham has for kids, for older students like me who have kids, the summer camp is a life saver. Last year, I enrolled my son in the camp, and I was able to work and study, and my son was able to have lots of fun during summer while he learned many things. I will register my son this year again and I am even thinking to bring my nieces from Mexico for it.

  1. What do you think Chatham could improve in the future?

For students like me that come with family I would like to experience some sort of support before coming here. I looked for an area with a good school for my son, but it turned to beĀ  50 minutes driving to the university. I love my house and my neighborhood but the distance has made me miss a lots of cool events happening at Chatham.