Hi! My name is Anthony Tabak, and I am a first-year Industrial Engineering student here at Pitt. I am from Youngstown, Ohio. During my first academic year, I joined the Aim High Association, which is a club focused on self-improvement and accountability. I currently serve as the club’s business manager. I also joined the Bodybuilding and fitness club and even participated in my first collegiate show. In my free time, I have been learning to play the guitar, perfecting my handstand, and sketching in my notebook.
I selected the Plus-3 Greece location to deepen my understanding of supply chain management, logistics, and what Industrial engineers do. One of the things I have heard repeatedly is how versatile industrial engineers are. However, with this vast versatility, I find it hard to imagine what jobs I would want to do in the discipline. With this experience, I hope to learn what industrial engineers do in the field, in general, and in shipping specifically. I want to determine if I want to specialize in this type of work going forward.
The Plus-3 program also connects to my goals and future plans. Firstly, I want to broaden my knowledge of both other cultures and engineering. I believe that one of the most useful skills someone can have is to see, bring, or acknowledge different perspectives on an issue or project. It’s difficult to question what seems normal if you have never been exposed to the alternatives. I will be exposed to another culture as well as different business practices, management styles, and problem-solving approaches that will help me when I start working as an engineer. These experiences align with my professional goals of being a project manager and leading a team. This could also help me with my dream of starting my own business the same way my mother did.