COMFORT ZONE
Latvian native embraces local community
When Annija Veinsteina came to ECU from Riga, Latvia in August 2015, she most likely found Greenville’s weather to be a bit different. She probably found it at 89 degrees, which is Greenville’s average August temperature, a difference from Riga’s average high of 74.
On top of getting her undergraduate degree, pursuing an MBA and serving in numerous GA positions, Veinsteina also found time to give more than 600 hours to the Greenville community, including Aces for Autism and local food banks and human societies.
“It was like a super-hot day,” said Veinsteina, a 2020 ECU International Graduate Student Award winner. “Coach Kirstin “K” Burgess asked another freshman tennis player and me to walk through campus about a week after we got here. Though it was strange, it felt like home.”
Veinsteina admits she didn’t know much about ECU before arriving. Still, she did know she wanted to continue playing tennis and getting a higher education in the states, just like her older cousin, who is also a tennis player, had done.
“Obviously, I had to decide whether I was going to stay at home or continue playing tennis and get a good education,” Veinsteina said. To help with the decision, she found an agent who subsequently found five U.S.-based universities for Veinsteina to research, which she did.
She decided to attend ECU, and five and a half years later, Veinsteina has a health services management undergraduate degree under her belt, and she’s on her way to getting her MBA.
“Getting my ECU degrees and being a part of ECU Athletics has opened more doors than I expected,” said Veinsteina.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Dr. Cal Christian, accounting chair with ECU’s College of Business, got to know Veinsteina through the athletic department, where he serves as the faculty athletics representative for ECU. He also taught Veinsteina’s international accounting graduate class. Christian encouraged her to embrace the benefits that ECU’s MBA program provides.
“There was an opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant in the College of Business’ career center, and I suggested she pursue it,” said Christian. “I thought it was a good idea that she step out of her athletics comfort zone so she can interact more with the College of Business and its alumni and to learn more about the opportunities in the U.S.”
“It (COB Career Center GA) was an important experience,” said Veinstena. “It showed me a different perspective because I grew up in athletics.”
“What I’ve learned from ECU and the MBA program will allow me to pursue a health services management career anywhere in the world.”
Serving the community
The differences between Riga and Greenville are much more than the weather. It would be natural to assume Veinsteina was nervous when she first came to ECU. If she was, her open-mindedness prevailed.
“A lot of international students don’t come here with an open mind,” said Veinsteina. “They want Greenville to live up to their culture, but they don’t appreciate the culture that is here.”
Part of that culture is giving back to the community. Veinsteina says Riga is a very giving culture, but it can be mostly tied toward monetary support. While in Greenville and at ECU, she saw that serving people who needed help is part of the local culture. She jumped headfirst into that approach. During her time at ECU, Veinsteina has provided more than 600 hours in community service to Aces for Autism, Rise Against Hunger, local food banks and humane societies, and various hurricane relief efforts.
Veinsteina says it’s not about the number of hours, but it is more about the joy, love and care she was able to give others.
“The ECU/Greenville community has helped me in so many ways, and I love giving back and making the community a better place. I feel very confident and prepared for my future.”