Hello! My name is Ramsey Smith, and I hail from Garnet Valley, PA— putting me squarely within the “outside of Philly” category, as I am about a half-hour drive from center city. I am a Chemical Engineering and Molecular Biology double major, and I plan to work in drug development after college. Some of my passions include tennis, basketball, cooking, hiking, and music. I also, fittingly, have a passion for travel. So far, I have visited Spain, France, Germany, Austria, and Mexico. My trip to Madrid and Barcelona may have been my favorite, partly because I speak Spanish (my step-mom is Argentinian).
On campus, I am a Stamps Scholar. The Stamps Program at Pitt emphasizes leadership and includes national conferences, community service events, Panther Leadership Academy, the OCC, and more. Through my scholarship, I receive enrichment funds for professional development opportunities like Plus3. I might not have considered participating in Plus3 if I did not have this financial assistance.
In addition to my responsibilities as a Stamps Scholar, I have been rather occupied with Greek Life. I recently joined Triangle, a social fraternity for science and engineering majors. Our chapter organizes philanthropy events, participates in intramural sports, networks with alumni, and maintains external relations with other sororities and fraternities. I have already benefited from our supportive community, and I look forward to helping Triangle expand as the upcoming Social Chair for Fall 2022.
Entering college, I did not expect to join a fraternity. I did, however, fully intend to study abroad. When I first heard about the Plus3 Program, I was unsure about a lot of things: the amount of time I would spend on the trip, the location, the coursework, and more. However, seeing the passion that junior and senior Plus3 alums have for the program encouraged me to apply. I could tell that they formed memories and gained perspectives that changed them in a very real, positive sense.
While any of the locations would have been fascinating, Cyprus particularly caught my eye. I find its somewhat ambiguous positioning between Asia, Africa, and Europe to be an interesting opportunity for cultural enrichment. The island also happens to be quite stunning, both in its pristine beaches and ancient ruins. Something about the Mediterranean is so enchanting to me. I think about all of the great powers that have sailed its waters to reach Cyprus, and I cannot wait to walk where they walked.
Moreover, I was excited to hear that the Plus3 Cyprus program would involve both supply chain management, which will be relevant in any engineering career I choose to pursue. On the trip, I want to stretch my analytical skills to understand the practical considerations that surround my technical training in the sciences. I also want to immerse myself in the Cyprian lifestyle, learning about the foods, languages, and customs that define a culture different from my own. By embracing uncertainty and taking risks, I am confident that I will emerge from this program as a stronger engineer and a more complete person.