Hi! My name is MacKenzie Rhykerd, and I am a first-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh. I am from a small town about 2 hours from Pittsburgh called Roaring Spring. Back at home, I love playing sports and being active, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors. I have two dogs, Rey and Waffles, and two cats, Jinx and JJ. My family’s go-to travel destination is Florida, which is also the farthest I have traveled. This trip will be my first time outside of the country!
I chose Pitt because growing up my family frequency visited Pittsburgh, and I fell in love with the city. Coming from such a small town, that is surrounded by nothing but cornfields, Pitt has given me so many new opportunities that have allowed me to experience a whole new sense of independence. While I have enjoyed being in the city and experiencing a new lifestyle, I am very excited to return home to see my family and hometown friends. However, before I begin my summer, I am extremely excited to travel to the Netherlands and learn more about sustainability! In the future my goal is to become a professional civil engineer. Less than a quarter of the engineer field is women, which puts me in the minority- but it also motivates me. Professionally, my goal is to bring more women into the field and make meaningful impacts in my community. Engineering allows me to improve the lives of others, think critically, and express my creativity. Additionally, through my work as a civil engineer I hope to positively impact the environment.
I have chosen the Plus3 program in the Netherlands because it offers a unique opportunity to learn more about Dutch culture and the country’s sustainability practices. I have always been interested in sustainability and environmental challenges, and I feel this program will help me gain valuable insight into how global issues are combated. As a rising civil engineer, I am interested in how sustainability can be applied to infrastructure and design. The Netherlands is known for its global leadership in sustainability and innovations. An example of their impressive technology is the Delta Works floodgates used for flood control.
During my time on this trip, there are many things I hope to gain personally, academically, and professionally. On a personal level, I hope this trip pushes me to step out of my comfort zone. Whether it is navigating a new culture or trying new foods, I hope to grow more confident and challenge myself with new experiences. Academically, I hope to see the applications of sustainability in real-world civil engineering projects, as well as develop a deeper understanding of interdisciplinary approaches. This will allow me to connect classroom knowledge to the real-world. Professionally, I hope to expand my network and further develop my soft skills. By meeting professionals and local engineers, I hope to gain relationships and sharpen my communication, problem solving, and intercultural skills. Overall, I believe the knowledge, skills, and experiences I gain from the Plus3 Netherlands program will stay with me throughout my academic and professional career.