Hello! My name is Jeffrey Lee, and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh studying Finance and Accounting, with a potential minor in Business Analytics or Economics. I was born in Manhattan, New York, in 2003 and moved to Maryland around the age of 10. Academically, I have always been motivated to challenge myself; I graduated from high school a year early and earned an associate’s degree from a local community college before transferring to Pitt. On campus, I am actively involved with two student organizations: Panther Equity and LEAP. Currently, my main goal is to start building a solid foundation in the business world by learning essential knowledge and skills.
Beyond academics, I have a deep interest in the stock market, financial reporting, and auditing. One of my primary career goals is to attain both a CPA and a CFA certification. Additionally, I have a passion for cultural learning. As an Asian American, I am always seeking to strengthen my connection with my heritage. On campus, you can almost always find me attending Chinese cultural events, whether it’s celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, participating in Lunar New Year celebrations, or even engaging in language exchanges with peers. I can understand and speak Cantonese semi-fluently and am currently learning Mandarin to further immerse myself in my cultural background. Outside of my studies, my other interests include mountain biking, sightseeing, reading and watching anime.
I chose to participate in the Puerto Rico Global Service Learning program because I see it as a unique opportunity to integrate real world experiences into my professional and academic journey. I am hopeful that this global service learning program will allow me to develop leadership, critical thinking, and management skills while broadening my global perspective. While I have never traveled outside the United States, I am eager to step outside my comfort zone and experience an international setting firsthand. By participating in this program, I hope to not only make a lasting impact but also leave with new perspectives and professional skills that will shape my future endeavors. From a professional standpoint, this experience will enhance my ability to work with diverse teams and prepare me for leadership roles in the competitive job market.
Ultimately, my goal is to grow both professionally and personally through this experience. I want to take what I learn from this GSL course and apply it to my future career in finance and accounting, making sure that I bring a globally aware and socially responsible approach to my work. Over the course of this semester, I look forward to challenging myself, stepping outside my comfort zone, and developing skills that can be translated into any environment I find myself in. I’m excited to see how much I can grow in such a short period of time and am confident that this experience will leave a lasting impact on myself. I genuinely believe that the Puerto Rico GSL program is an invaluable opportunity, and I am glad to have the opportunity to take full advantage of it as a student at Pitt.
