Hi everyone! My name is Jules Smalis and I am a rising sophomore, and I am going on the Plus3: The Netherlands trip. I am studying Finance and Marketing, and completing two certificates in International Business and Leadership and Ethics. Aside from my academics, I am apart of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity, where I am serving as their Brotherhood Chair for the upcoming fall semester. I am also on the Club Tennis Team at Pitt, an intern for the Global Experiences Office at Pitt Business, and a hostess on the weekends at a delicious Thai restaurant. Pitt Business has sparked my love for travel after I participated in the Global Haller Honors Fellowship, so I cannot wait to see what the Netherlands has in store!

I chose the Netherlands because I love Europe, and I was excited to learn more about their sustainability practices, the process for getting a product to a consumer, and their culture. Specifically, this program in general will offer a lot of social and academic enrichment that I am very excited to explore. Personally, I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture, and exploring the city of Amsterdam! Academically, I cannot wait for all the site visits, specifically the cheese manufacturer, and to practice my networking skills with international business professionals. Professionally, I am hoping that this program will give me insight on what aspects of Finance and Marketing I want to work in, and how I can incorporate the international aspect into my everyday career.

I am so excited for this trip, and I hope you enjoy reading along!