Hi everyone! My name is Vinny Jackson and I’m a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland. I’m currently studying exercise science and my goal after graduation is to go to graduate school for physical therapy! I’ve always loved exercising, learning about health, and helping others, so this field is perfect for me. I was born and raised just outside of Pittsburgh, so I didn’t travel very far for college. In my free time I like to exercise, hangout with friends, and travel!

In a few weeks I will be flying to Birmingham for Pitt’s Plus3 United Kingdom program! I have been outside of the United States a couple times (Canada and Turks & Caicos) but never to Europe, so I’m super excited. I chose this program for many reasons. First, I have always wanted to experience the culture of the United Kingdom. I’ve seen it in movies, on the news, in music, but finally being able to visit is a bucket list trip for me! There is such a rich culture and history that I’m so excited to learn about it! Secondly, this program is focused on healthcare and education, which I am very interested in.

I anticipate gaining a lot of knowledge and experience from this trip. Since I am someone who plans to go into the healthcare field, being able to visit their hostpitals and learn how healthcare and education differs in Europe is something I think will be really valuable. I’ll also get to see so many landmarks and cool places, giving me amazing stories to bring back home. I’m very excited!