This year was filled with ups and downs, realizations, and more importantly > community! From Chicago to Cincinnati, it was quite a change! I feel like I've felt a lot of culture shock during my college career at the University of Cincinnati (whether that be small, large, or medium). This year I choose to stay around in Cincinnati for a year and find myself in terms of the community of people I surround myself with. I ended up rushing an Asian-Interest Sorority (Delta Phi Lambda!), enrolled in a Sociology of Race Honors course, became involved with VSA (the Vietnamese Student Association) on campus, what a year! And oh wait, one more small thing ... hmm, what am I forgetting ...? GRADUATION!! 5 years pass by so quickly, so for those of you reading this, live it up! I'm honestly shocked at how far I've come since high school, let alone since my last year in review alongside Chicago. I've been able to connect better with my culture, assert my place as a Chinese Adoptee in America, and embrace being different! Of course, there's still a long way to go in terms of understanding myself, others, the world, culture, adult life (eek!), and so much more. Even listing all of those factors gives me anxiety > life is getting real. And I'd use that statement to sum up my 2018/19. Life. Got. Real.
This year has been filled with expectations, reality, and finally > belonging. I felt as though I needed to take a break from traveling the world and experience my first internship in the city that helped me learn and gain so much during college, Cincinnati! And what an incredible decision that has been. I've made so many friends and I've also felt as though I've been able to learn a whole lot more about myself identifying as an Asian American, artist, adoptee, student, only child, and a woman. This year has been centered around identity and I'm excited (and also quite fearful) about what is to come next! After May passes, I'm not sure what to expect, but a few words to describe how I feel are - nervous, excited, and grateful. I feel so grateful for my years at the University of Cincinnati and I can't really fathom how much I've grown during my time here. I feel like the University of Cincinnati alongside the University Honors program has given me such an amazing platform to prepare me for life after college by providing an INCREDIBLE co-op program / design education and also a great outlet for self-expression / reflection. Thank you fellow Bearcats! And thank you everyone in my life who have supported me (this is starting to sound like a Grammy's acceptance speech, lol).