What is your major and minor? What other academic programs were you a part of?
I am majoring in Accounting, Economics and Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership and Management. I am also part of the Global Bridge program at McDaniel.
What are some of the jobs you held while at McDaniel?
I have worked at the admissions office since my freshman year and the Writing Center since my sophomore year. I serve as one of the student members on the Honor and Conduct Board. I was also an honors peer mentor and a local leader.
What organizations were you a part of at McDaniel? What positions did you hold?
I have been the treasurer of Palabras to Words (P2W) for two years! P2W is a service organization on campus centered around tutoring students and community members whose first language isn’t English. We also host different language and culture centered events! Other organizations I have been part of are the Student Alumni Council, the GSA, the Asian community coalition, and the Japanese culture and anime club.
Have you enjoyed your time at McDaniel? If so, what did you enjoy the most?
Yes! I have loved my time at McDaniel, even if it was interrupted by covid. Despite graduating early, I have still made a lot of great friends and fun memories. My favorite thing about my time here is living in North Village with my friends. I brought a projector and we had a lot of fun nights watching movies or playing games together. It was also fun to go to all the fun events different clubs hosted. GTP bingo and trivia were very popular hangout activities. We also went on a lot of fun hikes, especially during the peak of covid where we had to be creative on how to hang out safely.
Who do you think was/is your best mentor?
My best mentor on the hill is Professor Flora-Nakoski/Vanessa. She has been my boss at the Writing Center for most of my time here and she will be sorely missed. In addition to writing and tutoring advice, she also gave me life lessons for the world after McDaniel and how to navigate it. Spending time with and talking to her is always a highlight of my week and I learn something new after each conversation.
Describe your favorite memory at McDaniel.
My favorite memory at McDaniel is Jan term 2020. Most of my friends were here and we were all taking just one class. We were together from noon to midnight almost every night just having fun. McDaniel also had a lot of things going on then so we were rarely bored. It was like being in college without all the stress associated with classes.
What are some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge I encountered at McDaniel was the COVID school year of fall 2020 to spring 2021. All my classes were virtual for both semesters. I had difficulties focusing and understanding the course materials. Since English wasn’t my first language, I was also having trouble understanding all the readings I had to do, especially in asynchronous classes. I overcame these challenges by setting up a routine and reaching out for help. I structured my day to mimic a regular class schedule to avoid being overwhelmed and put down every assignment on my planner so I don’t miss any assignments. I also reached out to SASS, who were very helpful and gave me access to a text to voice software despite not having accommodations since it was a very stressful year for everyone.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be an auditor for PWC’s DC office starting in September! I plan to spend my summer studying for the CPA exam, catching up with family, and taking a long-awaited break.
What advice would you give yourself as a first-year student at McDaniel?
As a very anxious first-year, I would tell myself to relax and to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination. I already knew I wanted to work for a big company, so I spent a lot of energy doing things I may not have been interested in but thought would look good in a resume. I spent a lot of time stressing over things that did not matter in the long-run. With what I know now, I learned that having fun and growing as a person is also a huge component of going to college.
Where do you see the world in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope the world will be a kinder place and that people will make the environment a priority.
How do you reflect on your senior year during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Senior year was much busier than what I originally planned, both due to covid and graduating early. While it would have been nice to spend the full four years, my senior year still has been an amazing experience. While it felt like it was going by so slowly each week, the semester actually flew by. I am thankful that my friends and family have been healthy during the pandemic and I look forward to when covid is nothing more than a memory.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the McDaniel community?
Thank you to everyone I have met at McDaniel! Everyone I’ve met has been part of my journey from freshman to senior year. I think I am a much more open and well-rounded person thanks to my time here and I could not have done it alone.
