Today felt like the first real look into what my next four years at Pitt could look like. Hearing from Assistant Dean David Hornyak showed me how much the Honors College focuses on connection, mentorship, and opening doors for students who want to push themselves. As someone who came to Pitt without knowing a single person, it was reassuring to learn how much support and opportunity the Honors College provides, especially through scholarships and programs that help students get involved beyond the classroom.

After that, Professor Bryan Schultz from Global Experiences introduced us to a whole new world of study‑abroad and service‑learning programs I didn’t even know existed a week ago. The Plus 3 program initially caught my eye, especially the Argentina track focused on Healthcare Management and the Morocco track centered on Technology and Entrepreneurship. Both align perfectly with my interests in medicine, business, and experiential learning. I also didn’t realize Pitt offered short-term volunteer trips where students can apply business concepts to real challenges in communities abroad or across the country. That idea stood out to me because it connects directly to the service work I’ve done back home, from wildfire relief to preparing meals for unhoused communities.

Overall, today made me realize the multitude of paths I can take here and how many of them match the things I care about: service, medicine, entrepreneurship, and building meaningful connections. My first few days at Pitt have already shown me how big these opportunities are, and I’m definitely ready for my upcoming freshman year at Pitt!