Hi everyone!!! My name is Sonja Kolecki, and I am currently a freshman in the College of Business Administration pursuing marketing with a minor in political science. I was accepted into the University of Pittsburgh after having applied with the intended major of global management. I then thought that I wanted to instead be a political science major therefore, I centered my fall classes around poli-sci. Though, similar to many incoming freshmen I was hesitant and unsure of what major to choose. Ultimately, I decided to stay in the Business School (yay!), switch to marketing, and change what would have been a poli-sci major to be a minor to still incorporate my interests in that field. At Pitt I am in ASL club, Sigma Delta Tau, and the Political Science Student Association. I want to explore more business clubs/groups on campus to immerse myself among like-minded individuals.
The summer going into my senior year of high school I went to Europe for two weeks and visited 6 countries on a school trip. It was an experience I will never forget. My Europe trip kickstarted my newfound interest in study abroad. After I learned about the Plus3 program in the fall, I knew it was something I had to apply for.
One reason I was interested in South Korea was because of my own Asian ethnicity. I was born in China and adopted at 1 year old. I was raised all my life in Ambler, Pennsylvania, a suburb about 30 minutes outside Philadelphia. I never imagined going back to China to visit, or any Asian country for that matter but I am ecstatic to do so. The connection between South Korea and smart systems drew me in as well. We live in an age where technology is all around us and it only seems to be improving. The company site visits will allow us to see the smart system’s impact on Korean culture. I am excited to explore a new country and indulge in everything South Korea has to offer. Especially being able to try authentic Korean food.
As I am typing this, we are only 23 days away from departure and I could not be more thrilled. I am extremely grateful to the University of Pittsburgh for providing this awesome opportunity to their engineering and business students. I am eager to see what professional developments and memories I will make.