Accounting has always been a career goal for Chinese student Corrine Zhang. Thanks to Winthrop University’s 10-year agreement with Nantong University, Zhang’s college in China, she becomes one step closer to achieving that goal.

Zhang has attended Winthrop for two years while she pursues a master’s degree in accounting. She misses her family in China, but they keep in touch through Skype.

“I like to do things very seriously,” she explained. “I like math and doing the calculations. I’m a quiet person who likes challenges. The accounting is suitable to my personality.”

She has enjoyed all of her finance classes at Winthrop and credits much of the faculty and staff, including Roger Weikle, dean of the College of Business Administration, Professor Charles Alvis, Associate Professor Barbara Pierce and Assistant Professor Peggy Hager for helping her adjust to the technical aspects of her chosen major and getting her off to a good start.

Zhang has also adjusted to life in a different country. She has learned some slang, such as “Okie-dokie,” and has grown to love pizza, spaghetti and burgers. She continues to practice her musical talents through the guzheng, a harp-like instrument popular in China. It also helps that numerous other Chinese students from Nantog also attend Winthrop.

“In the first semester, it can be difficult to adjust to many new things,” she said. “If we talk to [other Chinese] people here, we won’t feel lonely.”

She is glad Winthrop offered such a chance to attend school in the U.S., explaining that understanding other cultures and languages is the best way to learn, achieve and help others.

“People, when they know different cultures and study abroad, they open their minds and see lots of new things,” she said. “[If we don’t do this], how can we understand and have good communication?”

Last updated 8/8/2012