Hi everyone! My name is Alexa McPike and I am a Pitt 2026 Nursing student. I am an active member of Pitt Nursing Student Association (NSA) and I have been a part of the DEI Committee, Mental Health Committee, and Health Equity Committee. I have done volunteering with NSA in partnership with Days for Girls and plan to again in the future. I am a part of the Frederick Honors College and I am pursuing a Hispanic Language and Culture Minor. Additionally, I do research with the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program (URMP) associated with the VA hospital. Through the Honors College I am on the Honors Committee for the School of Nursing. Lastly, I am a URMP Scholar in the School of Nursing.
Outside of school I live in Collegeville, PA with my Mom, Dad, little sister, and yellow lab. I have worked at my local YMCA as a lifeguard for the past 4 years and I am looking forward to going back this summer. In my free time I love to golf, paint, and travel with my family. This summer I am also looking forward to going to Michigan for our family reunion, possibly going back to visit my hometown, and hopefully going to Florida again. Overall, I am excited to study abroad with an awesome group of students and then have a relaxing and fun summer to recharge after finals.
I was very excited when I heard of Plus3 Argentina for multiple reasons. Usually rising Sophmores do not have the option to study abroad so early, so this program is very unique and gets you into travel abroad early. Secondly, I like that Plus3 is only for 2 weeks since this is my first time abroad without my parents. It is more comforting that I won’t be gone for too long but I can still immerse myself in the country. I was also very attracted to the fact this this program is in a Spanish speaking country so I can practice my Spanish with the locals or other students on the trip who speak Spanish as well. I hope to learn things about Argentina’s healthcare system that I can bring back to the US and apply or learn from with relation to our healthcare system. I also hope to improve my professional speaking skills and what it is like to be in a formal interview setting with high-up officials. I think that I am going to get so much out of this program and I can’t wait.
