Samantha Liu

I am currently a proud Minuteman at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As an undergrad at UMass I am striving to earn a Bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Chinese. I am a member of the Finance Society here and also a member (along as an occasional teacher) of the Ballroom Dance Team. My other hobbies include running, travelling, and playing the piano and violin.

In Summer 2013 I went to study abroad. Destination: Shanghai, China. This trip would represent a list of "firsts" in my life. The first time I travelled alone, the first time going to China, the first time actually utlizing my language skills, the first time being independent, really. No friends, no family, just me.

But I wasn't prepared for one thing: I fell in love with Shanghai. I loved the warmth of the people, the overwhelming humidity, even the dirty polluted air. I loved everything. Shanghai, I quickly discovered, is becoming the new melting pot of the world where one second you could meet a student from Turkey and the next second a Financial Analyst from England. I've made lifelong relationships not only with the other students, but also with the professors, program directors, locals and other travelers.

My mind is that of a realist and a visionary and I've been looking for opportunities to challenge it in both ways. I believe that we were all born in this world to do something extraordinary with no matter what direction we take. I just hope that one day I will be able to make my mark on this world in Shanghai.