Hi everyone! My name is Sophie Lopez, and I am currently a first-year student in the Swanson School of Engineering. I’m majoring in bioengineering with plans to minor in mechanical engineering. My ultimate goal is to design prosthetics and other medical devices that can make a meaningful impact in the medical field. Here at Pitt, I’m involved with the rock climbing club and a professional engineering fraternity, Theta Tau. I’m also looking forward to joining more engineering-related organizations next year. 

Pitt has already opened so many doors for me and introduced me to perspectives I never encountered growing up in a very small town in Central Jersey. Outside of academics, I’m the oldest of three (my younger brothers are twins), and I have a chaotic but lovable dog named Juno. I love reading, doing paint-by-numbers, listening to music, and spending time with friends. I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit; I’ve visited Spain, France, Canada, and Ireland, and I hope to continue exploring the world and connecting with new people and cultures throughout my life.

This summer, I’ll be studying abroad in Spain! My dad’s family is from Galicia, a region in the northwest of Spain, and I’ve visited my family’s village many times over the years. While I’ve explored much of northern Spain, I’ve never been to Bilbao, so I’m especially excited to learn about a new region. Most of my experience in Spain has been running around the countryside with my brothers, visiting my great-uncle’s bar and eating ice cream, and seeing the pilgrims traveling on the Camino de Santiago. I have lots of stories that I can share, and I’m looking forward to making even more amazing memories on this trip and taking many, many pictures!

This trip is also an incredible chance for professional growth. I hope to gain a more professional view of internationality through this experience and understand how healthcare differs globally. As a future bioengineer, I’m eager to gain a more global perspective on healthcare and see firsthand how medical systems function outside the United States. I also want to improve my Spanish so I can better communicate with my family. I’m looking forward to sharing stories, snapping lots of photos, and making incredible memories this summer!