#PittsburghMe: Meet Tony Reina, Information Technology Major and Student-Athlete Student Profile
Meet Tony Reina
- Major/Program
- Information Technology
- Graduation
- April 2020
- Scholarships
- Academic and athletic
- Hometown
- Thurmont, Md.
- High School
- Catoctin High School
- Dream Job
- FBI
"I chose Point Park because I was looking for a good place to get an education and to compete in track ... Point Park's wide range of majors also gave me a huge selection to pick from and I was able to study a major that I’m seriously interested in."
Why did you choose Point Park University?
I chose Point Park because I was looking for a good place to get an education and to compete in track. Point Park was able to offer both of these for me. The track team had only started the year before I got here, which meant that I would be competing right away. Point Park's wide range of majors also gave me a huge selection to pick from and I was able to study a major that I’m seriously interested in.
How did you balance life as a student-athlete?
It's always class first, athletics second. The way I balance it out is by making sure I schedule my classes around my practice times. Class always comes first, and like many student-athletes, I make sure to communicate with my professors about my schedule so they are aware of when I am away for a meet.
How is Pittsburgh different from your hometown?
I’m from a small town in Maryland so moving to a big city, especially right in the middle of downtown, was a big change. I went from open fields to skyscrapers, and things felt a little more closed in and a lot faster than at home. Once I settled in, I realized that life in Pittsburgh was a change of pace, but not too different from back home.
How do you spend your time outside of school and athletics?
I've worked part time with Staples for two years and I'm also in the Army Reserve, which allows me to better my leadership skills while serving my country! Serving in the Reserve has also helped me with time management, as I have to balance it with class, homework and track. The Army has given me so much in terms of helping with college and allowing me to give back to the community.
What is your favorite college memory?
My favorite college memory is when the outdoor men's track and field team won the conference championship. We had been taking second at conferences since the program started, so once we were able to push past the barrier it made the win that much better! On top of that, we only won by one point, making it all the more nerve-racking.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
My advice to incoming freshmen would be to always keep pushing and take some chances that you don't feel comfortable with. The transition to college can feel like a lot at first, especially if this is your first taste of responsibility. College will offer you a chance to explore new freedom while learning more about yourself. Even if it does seem like too much at times, the best thing to do is to keep going and make the most of college while you're here!
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Text by Anna Wolf, senior public relations and advertising major