Hello! My name is Dylan Bedoya, and I am a first-year Industrial Engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. I am adventurous and always looking for new activities to experience, alongside new perspectives to gain. Academically, I am passionate about learning how to problem solve and applying it to experiences I may have in my future. I am excited to do this in Spain, as it will be my first time in Europe! A little about me is that I love soccer, and it has been a huge part of my life (Arsenal is the best club in the world). I look forward to seeing how different the culture is with sports in Spain. Also, I love music and finding new, spontaneous things to do no matter where I find myself. Professionally, I am motivated to explore how engineering and problem solving can be used in the real world to meaningfully contribute to the benefit of society in any way that I can. I am especially interested in the automotive industry and aim to work in the industry involving the technology and innovation aspects of it.

I have chosen the Plus3 program in Spain mostly because of its location, the culture, and Spain’s history. Spain has been an important country in terms of history, and I have always been interested in learning more about its history. Also, Spain is rich in culture and has beautiful customs, and I am intrigued and excited to be able to experience them myself. Furthermore, I am Colombian, with two Spanish-speaking parents and I wanted to practice my Spanish skills abroad during this experience. This is the perfect opportunity for that because I get to practice speaking in many different settings and with people of many different backgrounds.

Academically, I hope to learn more about the different fields that I can apply engineering to. I am excited to see a different side of engineering and how it is used in the medical field. I believe it can teach valuable lessons about personal morals and values, as well as help me focus my interests on courses I may take later in my future. Professionally, I hope to start building a global network of professionals to work alongside, be inspired by, and learn from. I also hope to gain a broader perspective from my experience in Spain that can help with where I see myself in my own future, and what I want to actually apply my skills to. Overall, I hope that this program helps me gain insight on global issues, ways to apply my knowledge and experiences in the future, as well as an experience that I will hold with me forever!