College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major(s): Biology and Society

Minor(s): East Asian Studies

Campus Involvement: ALANA Intercultural Board (Co-President), Illuminations (Publicity Chair, Choreographer) , Alumni Affairs and Development (Head Clerk) , The Alternative Protein Project (Marketing Lead)

What photos did you choose to share and why are they meaningful?

I chose the first photo (above) because it represents one of my first dance performances at Cornell Asia Night as part of Illuminations. I was nervous to perform, but after the performance my nerves calmed as I was greeted with warm compliments and support. This inspired me to pursue other roles within the multicultural community at Cornell to give everyone a space to celebrate their culture and feel accepted.

I chose the second photo (below) because it's the last event I hosted at Cornell. It was so much fun working with the underclassmen and seeing how strong the cultural communities are at Cornell. Thank you so much to everyone on the ALANA E-Board for working so hard and being such great leaders, it was such a gratifying and wholesome experience to work together.

How have you grown during your time at Cornell?

I chose these photos because I'm proud of how my connection to culture has grown while at Cornell. As a Chinese adoptee, I wanted to embrace my cultural identity but didn't always have opportunities to connect with my culture. After coming to Cornell, I joined Illuminations Chinese Cultural Dance Troupe my first semester and it quickly became a home to me. 

Through Illuminations, I found a welcoming space to learn Chinese dance and make so many new friends and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I've made to this day, bringing so many heartfelt memories. I ended up loving every part of the club and it really taught me to try new things and reach for any of my interests. Overall, I found the thriving cultural communities to be one of my favorite parts about Cornell and not only got to explore my own but surround myself with so many others.

What's a core memory you'll always have from your time at Cornell?

One of my first memories at Cornell is going to the CSA Mid Autumn Festival. Ho Plaza was shining with lanterns and bustling with people, food, and dances, and I remember distinctly walking past the booths to the stage just in time to see Illuminations performing. I loved the softness and expressiveness of the dance as I saw the performers flow across the stage with pink fans swirling through the air. I knew from then on I wanted to try it out too, and I will always cherish the friendships and memories I've made along the way.

What's the one thing you'll take away from your experience?

Always try to give back to the communities that uplifted you. I ended up joining ALANA Intercultural Board my second year on campus, and in addition to supporting 200+ cultural clubs, I got to help host the annual Culture Fest to bring together all the cultural organizations and it became such a fulfilling full circle moment. I'd found my own community, and hosted an event to celebrate all the multicultural communities on campus.

What advice would you have for new Cornellians?

My advice is to keep trying new things! It's really never too late. You'll always find new people, experiences, and challenges that make it worth it.

Meet more members of Cornell's Class of 2024