Hi everyone! My name is Aqsa Owais and I am sooooooo excited to be in Cyprus in LESS THAN ONE MONTH!!!!! It’s crazy that, a few months ago, I would never have even dreamed of studying abroad right after my freshman year of college.
I am a rising sophomore at the Swanson School of Engineering majoring in Bioengineering with a certificate in Global Health. My end goal is to be a practicing physician-scientist, which is why I am on the pre-med track and in the Guaranteed Admit Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
On a more personal level, I am the proud older sister of two, a 17-year-old brother and a 4-year-old sister. While I love spending time with them, my favorite activity is horseback riding.
At Pitt, I am most involved with the Makerspace located in the basement of Benedum. Right now, I am working on an XProject for an upper arm reductions in pediatric emergencies. But usually, my personal projects are centered around making gifts for the people I care about.
Finally, I am from “central” New Jersey but I moved around significantly while growing up. I found my love for international travel and appreciation for diverse cultures while living in India. This has motivated me to pursue experiences in life that expand my perspective, hence why I chose to study abroad.
So, why did I choose Cyprus?
As an aspiring physician, my goal in studying abroad is to orient myself to diverse cultures and belief systems as I have seen firsthand how having an international perspective can improve care. I chose the Plus3 Cyprus program to investigate the effects of globalization through direct interactions with local industries that play an integral role in the lives of Cypriots. The Plus3 will give me the unique opportunity to investigate how socioeconomic and political factors shape culture, industry, government, and healthcare infrastructure on a Mediterranean island. This will give me the knowledge necessary to represent the interests of my patients in a clinical, legislative, and industry setting.
Beyond that, I am excited to get to know everyone in the group and to explore the rich culture of Cypriots through their language, food, and traditions. I am most looking forward to trying their unique halloumi cheese, which is made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk (yum!).