Hi everyone! I’m Isabella John and I’m a part of the Plus 3 Program’s trip to Ecuador. I’m a rising sophomore planning to major in Business Information Systems and Global Management (with a concentration in Latin America) and a certificate in Data Analytics. On campus, I’m the publicity freshman chair for the South Asian Student Association, an active member in Phi Beta Lambda, and a volunteer for the Pitt Pantry.

I see the Plus3 Ecuador program as providing me with the necessary skills to improve the Pittsburgh community and aid in my future career. I am fascinated by the different ways corporations operate depending on their customer bases’ interests, country’s laws, access to resources, and many other factors. As a Global Management major, I intend to work for a multinational corporation. There’s no better way to understand how business is conducted in another country than by going to that country. Thus, I can’t wait to learn about the chocolate and rose supply chains in Ecuador which are two of their largest exports. 

One of the main reasons I want to work abroad is to help firms become more sustainable which would improve the livelihoods of all communities. I hope to understand how I as a future business professional can work with corporations and organizations today to decrease CO2 emissions. During my time in Ecuador, I’ll be able to learn the environmentally friendly practices or unique tactics used by businesses to minimize their carbon footprint. I intend to explore how similar strategies can be implemented here in Pittsburgh. 

Along with improving sustainability efforts, I intend to use the Plus3 Ecuador program to better my Spanish-speaking skills. Since I have been learning Spanish every year from kindergarten to Intermediate Spanish 4 at Pitt, I’m already at a working proficiency. I hope by continuing to learn this language through college, I can work towards becoming fluent and aid Spanish-speaking individuals in the Pittsburgh community. For instance, I volunteer at the Pitt Pantry which provides nutritious foods for free to students, faculty, and staff facing food insecurity. Improving my Spanish would allow me to better accommodate pantry shoppers whose first language is Spanish and make the experience easier for them. The Plus3 program will serve as the perfect opportunity to enhance my Spanish speaking skills even more and allow me to completely immerse myself in the language. 

I know this trip will be quite an adventure. I haven’t had the chance to visit South America yet so I’m excited to see the incredible biodiversity there. After reading last year’s Plus3 Ecuador blogs, it’s clear that everyone experienced things in the Amazon they never had before and came home with so many stories to tell. I hope the same happens for me and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.