Hi! My name is Ali Reinecker, a current freshman pursing a finance and business information systems major with a data analytics certificate from the College of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh. On campus, I am a member of the Pitt Women’s Club Basketball team and Phi Beta Lambda, a professional business organization. When I am not studying or attending practice and meetings, I love to explore new parts of Pittsburgh and attend both Pitt and professional athletic events. 

After my first year at Pitt, I am excited to continue to grow and expand my business knowledge through professional experiences such as Pitt’s Plus 3 China program. During the two weeks in China, we will explore globalization through the smart phone industry. When visiting Secco, Phicomm, China Telecom, Intel, and PCH International, I will learn about smart phone manufacturing and marketing on a global level by speaking to these company executives. Throughout our trip, I am excited to experience life in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an. We will visit cultural attractions such as The Great Wall of China and a sightseeing cruise in Hong Kong in addition to the company visits. I expect this educational trip to help me grow both personally and professionally. 

Growing up in York, Pennsylvania, I was rarely exposed to different cultures. My first experience studying abroad was after my sophomore year of high school. I was fortunate enough to travel to Peru with my Spanish class where we visited Manchu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, and Lake Titicaca. Over this ten day trip, I learned the differences between my culture and Peruvian culture, and I was exposed to lifestyles that I have never seen before. For example, I learned about the Uru people who build their own islands out of totora reed and live on Lake Titicaca. They make everything by hand, including boats, huts, and clothing. Being directly exposed to foreign customs gave me many more insights about Peru than reading facts from a textbook. This is why I am excited for the Plus 3 trip. Living in China for two weeks will allow me to absorb and appreciate Chinese culture first hand.

One of my personal goals is to expand my knowledge of different cultures. I will do this by being actively engaged in all actives and pushing myself to go out of my comfort zone in order to grow. For example, I want to experience Chinese foods, art, and music that are foreign to me now. I also have a goal to become close with Pitt students and mentors that will travel with me. Studying abroad together will connect us, and I will work hard to keep the relationships I make in China throughout the rest of my years at Pitt. 

Professionally, I want to learn about China and the smart phone industry that drives its economy. I can use my knowledge from the classes I have taken at Pitt over my freshman year, like economics , managing complex environments and organizational behavior, to truly understand how different countries use their best resources to make profits. I plan to work hard abroad and absorb the new culture. My love for travel will drive me to learn and use my knowledge when I come back to Pitt and in my future career.