Hi, my name is Sami Field! I am a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. I am currently undecided, but I am thinking about majoring in Finance. I would also like to minor in Legal Studies and get a certificate in Sports Management. I am not exactly sure what kind of career I am looking for, but I would like to pursue one in the sports industry. On campus, I am a member of Pitt’s American Marketing Association (AMA) and Theta Phi Alpha sorority.

I am from Oley, PA which is about an hour outside of Philly. I enjoy spending my free time hanging out with friends, going on walks, watching movies, and getting coffee. I also love the beach and can’t wait for summer beach trips and swimming in the ocean! Another thing I enjoy is listening to music and going to concerts. Some of my favorite artists are The Weeknd, Morgan Wallen, SZA, and Drake. I will be seeing Morgan Wallen and Drake/21 Savage in concert this summer and I am so excited!

But, I am even more excited for Plus3 Ecuador! Growing up, my family and I traveled a lot and I have been to many places around the world. Because of this, traveling has become one of my favorite things to do! I chose Plus3 because having the opportunity to study abroad as a freshman was something I could not pass up. I have never traveled outside of the country without my family and Plus3 is the perfect opportunity to get that exposure. It is amazing that we will be able to experience hands-on learning in another country and earn credits toward our degree at the same time! Plus3 also offers many unique locations which is another reason why I chose this program. I knew that no matter where I ended up, I would have a great experience! I am so glad that I ended up choosing Ecuador!

I chose Ecuador because of its amazing biodiversity. There are so many different kinds of animals and plants there that I have never seen before. I am also eager to explore the rainforest, see the city, and see volcanoes and mountains. Our schedule is packed and I love that we will be spending so much time outdoors. I am excited for the long hikes and I am hoping to see some waterfalls along the way! I also love that we will be meeting/staying with locals. I think this is the best way to truly learn and understand the culture of a different country. I also chose this location because of what we will be studying – chocolate and roses. I am unfamiliar with the supply chain of chocolate and roses and I am very excited to learn all about it.

Plus3 Ecuador will help me grow on a personal level because I will experience things that I never have before. I know this trip will really push me to try new things. I am excited to be immersed in the culture of Ecuador and learn from the people that live there. Academically, I am excited to learn about the supply chain of roses and chocolate because they are a large part of many holidays here in America. I am curious to learn about how Ecuador conducts business in general. I also took four years of Spanish in high school so I would like to use and build upon the Spanish skills that I have. I am still very unsure of what career path I would like to take in the future, but I am hoping this trip sparks something inside of me and can point me in the right direction. The hands-on experiences I will get from this trip are once in a lifetime. I hope this experience encourages me to continue getting out of my comfort zone even after we come back. I would love to study abroad for a full semester next spring and I think this trip will prepare me for that. I am so excited and am counting down the days until we leave. See you in Ecuador!!!