Hi everyone! My name is Brenna Baker and I am so excited to be departing for Cyprus in LESS THAN THREE WEEKS! I cannot believe the trip is just around the corner. I have always loved traveling and ever since visiting France and Spain 5 years ago, I have been dying to go back to Europe.

To introduce myself, I am a freshman in the Swanson School of Engineering. I am majoring in Bioengineering, and I am planning to get a minor in Economics. My hometown is Aurora, Ohio which is about two hours from Pittsburgh. I live very close to Cleveland and in my personal opinion, Pittsburgh is definitely the better of the two cities. Although, I am positive the cities in Cyprus will blow them both out of the water. Last year, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to a college as big as Pitt, but I have fallen in love with it. I have met some of my favorite people, and I have gotten involved in many clubs across campus. I am a staff member of Pitt Dance Marathon as well as a member of Phi Sigma Rho, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Biomedical Engineering Society. I am also currently doing undergraduate research on campus at the Human Movement and Balance Lab.

When I am not participating in one of these activities, I am usually studying or doing homework somewhere in Benedum or WPU. On the rare occasion that I have some free time, I love exploring new areas of Pittsburgh with my friends and trying new restaurants. When it is nice out, like this week, I try to take every opportunity to take my hammock to Schenley park, Frick, or Carnegie Library to get some much-needed fresh air. The weather has always played a big role in my mood, so the warm and sunny days are always my favorite.

I knew I wanted to study abroad, and the Plus3 Program initially interested me because it combined my interests in engineering and economics. The moment I saw Cyprus as an location option, I knew I had to apply. Cyprus is not only gorgeous, but it also has a fascinating history and an incredible infrastructure. It is fascinating to me that such a small country can have such an impact on global trade and commerce. Through this experience, I hope to build connections with all of my business and engineering peers as well as learn more about this incredible country. I do not know what is in store for all of us on this trip, but I cannot wait to find out!

-Brenna Baker