Hello! My name is Rebekah Burns, and I am from Monroeville, PA, which is about 25 minutes outside of Pittsburgh. I am currently a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering at Pitt. I am also planning on minoring in Bioengineering. In the future, I am hoping to get a job that allows me to be a part of the development process of prosthetics.

Outside of school, I like to read and listen to music when I am alone, and I like to do anything that I can with my friends. I love going to concerts, and I feel very lucky that many bands and artists visit Pittsburgh on their tours. I also enjoy spending time with, and annoying, my two siblings, Finn and Josh, who are two years older and younger than me, respectively. I also have a dog named Sunshine, who I miss very much when I am away from home.

Applying to Pitt’s Plus3 program was not a difficult decision to make. While I have traveled a fair amount within the US, I have never left the country, so this is a new experience for me! I am looking forward to growing personally through this experience as I have the chance to experience a new culture and environment. I originally applied for the trip to the Netherlands; however, traveling to Cyprus is a wonderful opportunity for me, and I am excited to learn more about the history and industries of Cyprus.

I am also very interested in what we will be learning about as we visit different companies during our trip. Getting the chance to hear from and talk to a wide range of companies will allow me to learn more about how each organization interacts with other parts of their respective supply chains. As an engineer, I am also interested in the development processes that these companies use to produce their various products. Overall, I know that Pitt’s Plus3 program will be invaluable to my future at Pitt and beyond.