Hi everyone! My name is Amber Earnest, and I am currently a freshman in the Swanson School of Engineering pursuing a major in Computer Engineering. I have always had an interest in technology and computers. I owe some of this to my parents who both have degrees in computer science, but it was actually our family vacations to Disney World which really motivated me to pursue computer engineering. Growing up, I thought the animatronics around the parks were amazing, and ever since I have wanted to learn how to make my own.
I grew up in Apollo, PA, a small town about an hour northeast of Pittsburgh. It’s surrounded by hills and farms, and I even worked at my friend’s apple orchard during my senior of high school. As you can imagine Apollo and Pittsburgh are quite different. However, both have instilled in me the value of seeing different cultures. At Pitt, I have met so many people from so many different places. Hearing about their different traditions and backgrounds has been one of my favorite parts of college so far. Back home I never got to experience this, and that has motivated me to try and see and learn as much as I can moving forward.
When I heard about the Plus 3 program I thought it would be the perfect way to do this. Not only would I get to see more of the world, I would get to learn more about my major. I was even more excited when I found out that as part of my Plus 3 experience, I would be going to Cyprus. Cyprus is in such an interesting part of the world, connecting three different continents. It offers a great opportunity to learn a little about cultures and engineering practices from all three regions.
Culturally, I’m probably most excited to go to different shops and restaurants around the island. I love to eat, and as much as I like french fries, pickles, and pierogies I’m ready to try some real Mediterranean cuisine. Academically, I think it will be really interesting seeing how engineering compares abroad to what I have experienced in the U.S. Engineering is often seen as very rigid and precise because of its dependence on STEM, but I expect that the affect of cultures on the field of engineering is often underappreciated. Finally, I think Plus 3 will open me up to professional experiences. This is definitely the part of the trip I have the least experience with, so I hope by the end I will be more confident and comfortable in a professional business setting.
All in all, I think my trip to Cyprus with Plus 3 will help me grow in so many ways. Not only will I get to experience a new culture, I will get to learn more about engineering in an academic and professional environment. I’m so excited to see what all this experience holds!