Who’s ready for the adventure of a lifetime? My name is Brendan Sweeney and I am currently a freshman here at the University of Pittsburgh. I currently plan to pursue a triple major in Supply Chain Management, Business Information Systems, and Marketing (although my plans tend to change once a week). I also will be participating in the Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics starting next year. Throughout my first two semesters here at Pitt, I have developed a huge love for all things Pitt Business whether it’s the curriculum, the amazing staff, or the endless opportunities there are to succeed. I hope to expand my love for Pitt Business as I take my collegiate experience “to the World” in Buenos Aires, Argentina this May!
I am originally from a town called Garnet Valley on the other side of Pennsylvania in the “outside of Philly” range. I have a younger sister named Mary Kate and a dog named Molly. When I was in high school, I was very involved in student council and our school’s Mini-THON event. So, when I came to Pitt, I knew I wanted to find similar experiences to those that I had in high school. I joined Pitt Dance Marathon (PDM) and loved every second of being on the Dance Marathon Panel where I got to help plan the activities for the day of the event. We raised over $338,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network! Next year, I will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for PDM (which is a glorified way of saying that I’ll be MCing the event). I also will be serving as a Resident Assistant in the Business Living Learning Community of Bruce Hall next year. I can’t wait to be able to help the incoming freshmen through their transition into Pitt and give them tips about Pitt Business! Additionally, I will be a Teaching Assistant for a business core class called Quantitative Methods. So, needless to say, I have a ton going on next year!
I absolutely can’t wait for our adventure to Buenos Aires! I chose Plus3 Argentina because I’ve always been fascinated with the healthcare system and wanted to learn more about its business and international implications. Additionally, travelling to a culture rich country like Argentina will serve as an amazing first study experience for me. Plus, who wouldn’t want to go to Argentina? I am most excited for our in-country site visits and cultural excursions. One of the most interesting site visits will be our trip to the Delta Tigre Islands. This seems like it will be the coolest day because it involves visiting island-based community health centers by boat which is their primary method of receiving necessary supplies. This visit will be particularly interesting in learning how these small, individual health centers manage to function with limited resources. I’m also very excited for some of our cultural excursions including visiting an Estancia and a Polo game!
From this trip, I mostly want to gain international experience. This will be my first time being in a foreign country without my family. In the past, most of our family trips were usually at resorts or cruises that included quick stops in different countries. So, being alone and managing myself in another country will be new for me. I also really want to use this as an experience to gauge my interests for study abroad. Plus3 is the perfect introductory program to studying abroad because its only two weeks long. If I enjoy my experience, I’ll be able to make a plan for future study abroad programs throughout my time at Pitt. Finally, I really want to develop a more advanced knowledge of the healthcare system. My Dad has always worked in some aspect of health whether it be in a hospital or insurance. Being exposed to his career makes me want to learn more about the possibility of taking a path that is healthcare oriented. I hope this trip provides more clarity towards whether or not healthcare is a future career option for me.
Well, that’s all I have for now! I hope you will follow me throughout my journey as I take on Argentina! Next time you hear from me, I’ll be tangoing in Buenos Aires!
