Meet Christian Jones (He/Him)

Program and Location:

Spring, Trinidad and Tobago: Designing for sustainable Food Systems; Trinidad and Tobago

Major/Minor:

Master of Business Administration

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad because I have never traveled out of the country before and I enjoy traveling and having new experiences. I also have family in Trinidad, and I wanted to experience Caribbean culture and their natural foods.

What did you learn about yourself?

I was faced with challenges such as younger generations’ reluctance to adopt healthier foods and the popularity of fast-food chains, I realized that I am resourceful and imaginative. I learned to think outside the box by creating a variety of convenient, cost-effective plant-based options that appeal to diverse tastes. I gained a clear picture of what motivates me, how I work best, and the impact I hope to achieve through my initiatives.

What was one of your favorite parts of your program?

My favorite part of the program was trying the different types of foods such as doubles and roti and seeing the views from the top of a mountain in Trinidad. I enjoyed listening to and watching the different dances and music displayed in the country.

What advice do you have to future study abroad students?

If you have the opportunity to study abroad I would recommend it. The unique cultures of foods and types of people I interacted with were enjoyable. It broadens your horizons on how many people are in the world and how different people live. You can appreciate the culture they have.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?

I will travel to Trinidad again. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and what makes the country special. I was also able to make new friends just by traveling to another country with different people and spending every day with them. In focusing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, I found a passion for creating programs that not only solve a problem today but also contribute to healthier, more sustainable lifestyles for the future. These lessons will guide future projects and collaborations and helped establish my principles of what I want to accomplish in any business I am in.

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

Classes were different because we were in nature every day learning from different people about their lives and we went to two different beaches, traveled to the top of the mountains and went to different malls.

In what ways did your identity have an impact on your experience abroad?

I was familiar with the foods within the Trinidadian cuisine and I was able to see some family while I was on this trip. It was enjoyable because I was familiar with the foods but being able to try the natural foods created from within the country made the trip more enjoyable.

Would you do it again?

I would study abroad again. There are 17 sustainable development goals created by the United Nations. I chose to focus on the sustainable development goal of good health. Trinidad has the most KFCs per square mile in the world, therefore focusing on improving there healthy would be beneficial for the country. I had an idea on how to help. I decided to create a plan for a plant forward meal hub. This service would offer convenient and varied plant-based meal options at specific hub in different locations in Trinidad, such as North, South, East and West Trinidad. There is a diverse menu of plant-based meals inspired by Trinidadian cuisine, incorporating local flavors, ingredients, and traditional dishes.

The challenge I encountered occurred when I realized the younger generation has a reluctance to healthier food options. This is primarily due to unhealthier foods being convenient and cost effective. To counter this challenge a diversity of food options needed to be created. This plant forward hub would include a mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to cater to different tastes and preferences. I would work with the government to help focus on the target demographic of ages 16-25. The Trinidadian government already had a school box lunch system in place, however my goal would be to have healthier and affordable, and a variety options in many high traffic areas for easier access and to counter KFC.

Through this project I learned Trinidad is facing a burden of noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer and poor nutrition is a major factor. My idea would ultimately reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with a unhealthy diet. This experience enhanced my understanding of public health, nutrition, and government collaboration in creating sustainable health solutions for places outside of the United States and broaden my thinking to help other countries. Ultimately, I learned that I care deeply about improving people’s quality of life. Understanding the barriers (economic, cultural, and social) to better nutrition helped me realize just how empathetic I am and how driven I am to address real needs.