Hello everyone, my name is Matthew Acker. I am a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in finance and accounting with an economics minor and a certificate in entrepreneurship & innovation. I grew up in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania which is about 45 minutes north of Philadelphia. I have five siblings that include two sets of twins. My favorite things to do are play and watch sports. My favorite professional teams include the Philadelphia Phillies and the Philadelphia 76ers. In high school, I played on the baseball, basketball, and golf teams while also participating in human rights and a stock club. Aside from always wanting to be a professional baseball player, my dream job is to become an entrepreneur and start my own company. 

As for my involvement so far at Pitt, I am on the club baseball team and also in Enactus and Panther Equity. Out of these three clubs, the biggest time commitment but also the most rewarding experience has been the club baseball team. So far this year, we have traveled to Florida, Michigan, and Maryland to compete against other club teams. All in all, this team has provided me with some of my best friends so far at Pitt and allows me to continue to play the game I love. 

Since 8^thgrade, I have worked as a caddy at a local country club. This experience has allowed me to network with some of the most successful people in the Philadelphia area. I enjoy how each day of work, I come in contact with all types of professions. During the past 5 years, I have caddied for doctors, lawyers, business owners, car salesman, marketers, and pretty much any profession you can think of. 

I could not be more excited to say this May I will be spending two weeks in China. As China’s economy continues to grow and we see more and more goods with the “made in China” stamp on them, I thought it was a no brainer to go and see what makes the Chinese economy so successful. The different sitevisits to Huawei, Secco, Phicomm, China Telecom, AmCham, and Caterpillar will provide me with the chance to witness up-close how successful Chinese companies operate. Aside from the company visits, I also am excited to participate in once in a lifetime opportunities by exploring some of China’s most historic landmarks. During this trip, I look forward to learning more about and eventually touring: The Great Wall, the Terra-Cotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven.

All in all, I believe China will provide me with experiences that will allow me to build transferrable skills personally, academically, and professionally. Personally, I think all the historic landmark visits as well as being in a foreign country for two weeks has the opportunity to change my perception of many things in my current life. Academically, the opportunity to see how international companies manage themselves will be an invaluable experience that I could never receive in a classroom setting. Finally, I hope this trip helps me professionally towards my dream of being an entrepreneur. Right now, I cannot wait for the next two weeks to pass and it be May 4^thwhere I will embark on an experience I will never forget!