This is why I chose Pitt. Deciding on a college to attend took me four full months after I received my final acceptance letter. Very few cons were posed on my pro/con lists, but there were numerous pros for every school. While applying to schools, I never really looked into study abroad. I thought that study abroad required a semester-long commitment, fluency in multiple languages, and living independently in a drastically different culture. Admitted Students’ Day at Pitt Business showcased a number of opportunities that disproved all my fears. As a freshman, I strived all year to participate in Plus3, and I ended up being accepted for my top choice program in Vietnam. The cultural knowledge I took in, the wonderful people I met, and the incredible sites and clients we visited made the trip two of the most incredible weeks of my life. I knew that before I graduated, I needed to study abroad again, but I did not know how it would fit in with my plan. My name is Campbell Niehaus, I am a Junior, and I will be traveling to Trinidad as a part of the Global Service Learning program this Spring Break.

As a member of the Certificate Program for Leadership and Ethics (CPLE), I realized that the perfect avenue was laid out in front of me. To graduate with my intended qualifications – a Marketing major, a Human Resources Management major, a Sports Management certificate and CPLE – I needed to make sure I was constantly on top of my class scheduling and filling every gap. I couldn’t afford to spend a semester away from campus, and I knew that leaving my friends, the campus, the sports teams, the city, and the clubs for that long would have a lot of drawbacks. So, I found a route where I could gain additional international experience, avoid breaking the bank, and remain in touch with the University for all 8 of my planned semesters.

Unlike nearly all my classmates, I come from a homeschooled background where I did a lot of independent work from kindergarten to eighth grade. This style of learning allowed me to develop a very strong work ethic which I transitioned to general success and leadership roles in high school. Leaving my home state of Virginia to travel to Pittsburgh where I didn’t know a single other student was an intimidating decision, but I did my best to embrace it. My random roommate placement led me to find some of my closest friends, and I met many of my other best friends during Pitt-sponsored events before classes began freshman year. Having this strong support system at school allowed me to branch out and try different activities.

My second semester freshman year, I immediately got involved as the Vice President of Operations for the Sports Business Association on campus and I also got a job as a Pitt Equipment Manager. I used these two early experiences as a springboard for future leadership positions and jobs, and through two and a half years of college, I have been lucky enough to work in eight different positions and internships with six different organizations. I already have achieved one of my ultimate goals of working for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I hope to continue with the organization in the future. I am now focused on prepping for my final year of school where I will finish up my degree requirements and serve as the Lead Teaching Assistant for Quantitative Methods – one of Pitt Business’s most rigorous core classes. I feel confident that I can pull various transferrable skills from each of my past experiences to have a successful study abroad trip this semester.

This Spring, I will be using this blog to document my Spring Break journey to Trinidad. The southernmost Caribbean island plays host a variety of diverse cultures that trace their roots all over the globe from parts of Africa to India to Europe and the Americas. I have heard numerous stories from friends who participated in this program last year about how entertaining and welcoming the locals are, and I am extremely excited to embrace the culture and leave my comfort zone as I did in Vietnam on my last trip.

Throughout this semester and during our trip, we will be pushing forward with the next phase of a larger plan that Pitt Business has in place to consult with the DORCAS Women’s Group in the remote town of Matelot, Trinidad. Additionally, this year we are adding another facet to our work as we begin to develop what we hope is a long-lasting, mutually beneficial partnership with Nature Seekers. Nature Seekers is a rural, community-based organization which prides itself on being ethical and ecofriendly. They contribute to helping clean Trinidad’s beaches and provide support for the at-risk sea turtle population in the country. The locals who volunteer with the group resourcefully produce beautiful necklaces and other jewelry out of broken pieces of glass and other sea debris, and they sell these goods at markets in the country with hopes to continue expanding their sales outside of Trinidad. With both groups’ high motivation to contribute to social causes, we hope to serve as a mediator between these two groups and offer recommendations for a partnership between them in addition to providing individual counsel.

I am incredibly excited to develop as both a student and a globally-aware citizen and businessman through this trip. While in Vietnam, I gained a great appreciation for the local culture and chaotic way of city life that differed significantly from the US. Retrospectively, I analyzed the trip and found ways to incorporate my increased appreciation for the privileges I have in my own life into my daily actions and thoughts. With this trip, I expect this appreciation to continue to grow dramatically as I get my first real experience living in a jungle for a few days. I expect to be challenged in multiple ways, but I look forward to each. I have never been a super adventurous eater (I’ll try most things, but I don’t like a lot including seafood), but I’m looking forward to trying all the homemade cuisine which my friends have raved about. I am also super excited to get to know the local people and develop relationships with them. Spending a day in the capital city of Port of Spain and most of the trip in the two rural communities of Matelot (where DORCAS Women’s Group is located) and Matura (where Nature Seekers is located) will give a taste of all different kinds of life on the island and really showcase the incredible diversity of the nation.

I am so eager to embark on this trip, and our pre-travel consulting preparations are already in full swing. Keep an eye out for updates!