Kong Yang

• What does being a First-Generation College Graduate mean to you?

Being a First-Generation College Graduate means a lot to me. Personally, it means that me, myself, and I have the capability to push through adversity and succeed. It means that I should never doubt my abilities as an individual. Most importantly, it means I should believe in myself. I truly believe that being one of the First-Generation College Graduate in family is a testament to our family's strength as we struggled through years of hardships. I am proud that I can can show my family members that we are strong, resilient, and successful.

• What is your proudest moment from your time at UCSD?

My proudest moment from my time at UCSD would probably be serving as Undergraduate Instructional Assistant under Dr. Elisa Geiss. Personally, it was a moment where I felt that all my struggles during college was validated and worth it. Most importantly, I proved to myself that I am a much better student that I realized.

• Who are the family members, friends or loved ones who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

The most influential people during my college journey was definitely my family. I appreciate how understanding you all are of my struggles as a student and your continued support through all this. I would also like to thank my friends and peers for providing words of encourage during my journey. Lastly, I'd like to thank my previous mentors, Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Bravo, and Mrs. Fernandez, for guiding me along the way and always welcoming me back with open arms.

• Who are the staff, faculty or mentors who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

There has been so many people that have influenced my journey here at UCSD. One big influence I had was everyone from the dance department. During my hardest time at UCSD, they taught me to take care of myself and to take a break from the stressors in my life. I would honestly contribute my continued enrollment in college to them and I would not be here today without them. I would also love to give a shout-out to Dr. Makeba Jones and Dr. Amy Bintliff of the Education department for showing me that my struggles as a student are heard and that we, as individuals, have the power to change it. I would like to thank Dr. David Frederick from the Psychology department for teaching me how to do research and showing us that research can be exciting. Lastly, I would like to thank Dr. Elisa Geiss for giving me the opportunity to learn under her as a UGIA. She gave me a great confidence boost and taught me how to support individuals emotionally and academically through difficult times.

• What do you plan or hope to do after graduating?

After graduating, I plan to work as a behavior therapist for kids with Autism and study for the GRE exam. Then, I plan to attend graduate school to work with adolescents in a clinical setting. My hope is that whatever pathway I choose in the future, I'll be happy.

Campus Affiliations

Campus Involvement

• Member, Hmong Student Alliance at UCSD

Student Retention & Success Programs

• Student Success Coaching Program

Cultural and Resource Centers

• APIMEDA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American) Program and Services