As Pitt Plus3 Netherlands comes to a close, I have really enjoyed reflecting on everything I have gotten to do in the past 12 days. Throughout the program I got to see new places and make new connections, all while learning about sustainability.

As I return to the United States, I have started to think about how the lessons I have learned during the program can benefit me in my academic and professional career. Throughout the program, I think I have grown most in my knowledge of sustainable living, and my skills in teamwork.

While I understood what sustainability meant before Plus3, I never truly grasped the extent of sustainability until our experience in the Netherlands. During our program, I learned how sustainable living is tied to everything from the clothes we buy, to the transportation we take, and even the foods we eat. Additionally, I have learned how to make sustainable choices through research and analysis of a product’s life cycle assessment. As I head back to Pitt, I plan to lean on my new knowledge of sustainable living to help work towards a greener future by making sustainable choices.

Beyond building my knowledge of sustainability, I found Plus3 to be very valuable for strengthening my skills in teamwork. Before beginning our time in the Netherlands, I was only familiar with a few people participating in the program. However, even during our first day in Amsterdam we were all working together as a group. For example, in the afternoon of our first day we had to figure out how to use public transportation to get to Keukenhof Gardens. Throughout the rest of the program, we had to overcome many more challenges together, and the teamwork skills I developed throughout the trip will be beneficial throughout the rest of my academic and professional career.

I really enjoyed my time in the Netherlands with Pitt Plus3, and I am very thankful for the friends, memories, and knowledge I gained throughout the program. Even though the program is now coming to a close, I look forward to utilizing my knowledge of sustainable living and strengthened teamwork skills throughout the rest of my academic and professional career.