Hello, it’s Jonathan “JJ” Li here from outside of Philadelphia! I am an excited to announce that I will finally be able to study abroad since the COVID pandemic derailed my original plans. This Maymester, I will be partaking in the Plus3 Ireland program, and cannot wait for it to begin! Sure, I have traveled to foreign countries before, but this will be my first time stepping foot in Europe. 

At Pitt, I am a junior double majoring in Supply Chain Management and Marketing, minoring in Economics, and pursuing a certificate in Leadership and Ethics (CPLE). In addition to academics, I’m involved in several extracurricular activities. This is my second year serving as a Resident Assistant in the first-year Pitt Business Living and Learning Community. Furthermore, this is my second year as a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, of which I am the Treasurer. After returning from Ireland, I will be working with PNC as an operational excellence intern. 

As mentioned above, the international program I am participating in is Plus3 Ireland—a two-week three-credit study abroad experience. There, I’ll be engaging in numerous cultural activities and company tours. On that note, I’ve chosen this program because it will provide me with a genuine study abroad experience that also fits into my busy summer schedule. 

I intend to utilize this opportunity to increase my cultural intelligence and to better understand the similarities/differences between doing business in the United States and abroad/Ireland. As I have an interest in consulting, interacting with people of diverse backgrounds will help me learn how to communicate with others both abroad and locally—which can come in handy when dealing with all sorts of clients. In fact, Plus3 Ireland can also act as a really great networking opportunity. On a more personal level, I look forward to reflecting on my experiences and sharing them with friends and family who’ve never had the opportunity to travel to Ireland before (or any other foreign country). 

In any case, I am eager to go abroad as there is so much to do and to learn. See you in Ireland!