Hi everyone! My name is Paige Colson, and I’m from West Chester, PA. I’m a first-year nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh with an intended Spanish minor, and I am a part of the Frederick Honors College. I came to Pitt because of its incredible clinical opportunities and strong nursing school reputation (currently tied for 4th in the nation). After earning my BSN and passing the NCLEX, I hope to work as a nurse in either the Labor & Delivery or NICU units.

Outside of academics, I’m part of Pitt’s Club Running Team and was recently elected Social Media Coordinator on the E-Board. I’m also active in Pitt’s Nursing Student Association and Step at Pitt, a service dog training education program. In my free time, I love photography and am currently training for my first marathon, which I’ll be running in Pittsburgh the week before we leave for Spain.

A few more fun facts about me: I enjoy listening to music and playing the ukulele. I’m the middle child in my family with an older brother and a younger sister, we also have a dog named Boo. While I’ve traveled a little within the U.S., this will be my first time leaving the country, so I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to explore Spain and experience something totally new!

I chose Plus3 Spain because I’m interested in learning about healthcare systems in other countries and how they compare to the U.S. I’m especially excited to visit hospitals in Spain and hear from the speakers about their nursing roles. I hope to take what I learn and apply it to my future nursing career, particularly in understanding how different systems approach care and patient outcomes. I’ve also been fascinated by how closely nursing and engineering are connected, and I’m interested to see that interdisciplinary relationship in action while abroad. Ultimately, I hope this experience expands my understanding of global healthcare.