Dear Reader,
It is with great pride that I welcome you to my website. From the buzzing information fairs, sweat soaked badminton practices, and late night study sessions that I have spent at PFT, never for a second do I regret working hard for my future at LSU. Most importantly though, in my time here I have forged enduring friendships that I would not trade for anything in this world. Here on my website, you can explore the various components of my undergraduate life that made my stay at LSU meaningful. Through these experiences, I have learned to appreciate my Community, hold myself to Honorable standards, and embrace the Foundations of what makes me, well... me! Below are a couple of snapshots of my time at LSU, and in the tabs that you will find on top of the website, are a more in depth look at the details contributing to me being an LSU scholar. Please enjoy browsing through these webpages and feel free to contact me at anytime!
Scholarship
As a member of the LSU College of Science SCI LEAD Council, I was recognized for my efforts in organizing events for students in the College of Science. Such events included Minute Meetings - an educational conference for freshmen and sophomores to gain insight from upperclassmen in the college, and Field Day - an event for students to relax before finals on the parade grounds. Both of these events were featured on the LSU Science Instagram.
Teaching
Before GeauxTeach, I was set on following the Pre-Dentistry pathway as a Biology major. Even though I knew that being a dentist was what I wanted to do, I still felt like something was missing. The summer after my Sophomore year at LSU, I received an informational email with an invite to attend a zoom meeting for GeauxTeach, an organization that was completely foreign to me at the time. In the zoom meeting I learned about secondary education as a concentration for STEM majors and the Alternative Certification Pathway. The meeting showed me the great career potential that GeauxTeach had for undergrads still exploring their options. I saw this as a great opportunity for developing communication skills, and noted the fact that it was a respectable backup career. Today, I am a certified student teacher with Praxis PLT, Praxis Biology, and a Google Classroom Level 1 certification, who is ready to begin my teaching internship, something that I believe will enhance my communication skills for dental school.
Diversity
Growing up Asian-American, I have always believed that we as humans should treat each other equally regardless of our differences. I carried that same mindset as I embarked on my journey at LSU, where I immersed myself in LSU's culturally rich, and diverse programs. Through the LSU Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, as well as The Office of Diversity & Inclusion in the College of Science, I have managed to participate in, and organize events for the university, that encourage people to adopt a mindset of friendship, curiosity, and humility. Some of these events focus on traditionally underrepresented groups and improving their wellbeing, while others are just for lighthearted fun. An example of this is Girls Day at the Museum, where young girls are encouraged to pursue their dreams in STEM by participating in an action packed day at the LSU Natural Sciences Museum.
Athletics
I founded the LSU Badminton Club in December 2020 with my friends upon a dare, but never in a thousand years would I have expected a decision like this that I made on a whim, to develop into a fully fledged on campus sports club. At our height during August of 2022, we had 120 members, seasonal tournaments, and semesterly t-shirt drops. We hope to provide the highest quality of Badminton play at LSU.
About Me
In the TV show Game of Thrones, great medieval houses engage in both political and actual warfare to gain the upper hand in power and control of the mythical land of Westeros. At the top of this rat race lay the Iron Throne, sat on by the most powerful person from the most powerful house, overseeing any, and everything that happens in Westeros.
Despite the fact that this show is popular predominantly due to its genre in medieval fantasy, I think that another factor contributing to its widespread praise comes from the shows ability to display what power can do for the people worthy of holding it, or on the flip side of the coin, what damage it could cause through the wrong people that acquire it. Either way, it’s admirable that all things considered, no matter your background in the royal courts, what your intentions are, or whether you are villain or hero; the simple fact that you are sitting on the Iron Throne shows that you have a certain finesse when it comes to obtaining your wants, and even more so, it shows that you have the leadership skills to maintain it.
With the recent revamp of the Game of Thrones series - The House of the Dragon, I’m reminded with the release of a new episode that at the height of its reign, the mightiest house in Westeros had some of the most powerful rulers equipped with incontestable leadership skills reflected with their every action, and it goes to show that power and influence comes not within a day, rather, it takes years and even generations to build up these skills of leadership.
Unlike Game of Thrones, I do not have generational time. For that reason, I am strict with myself so that I can also develop similar leadership skills comparable to the Kings of Westeros. My parents once told me that there are three pillars to success that I needed to master during my undergraduate years, and those three pillars are the physical, social, and academic pillars, each holding equally as much importance as the other. Following their advice, I have constructed all three pillars meticulously, and now, each of these pillars contribute to who I am and how capable I am to lead others. Had I not been able to develop these pillars successfully, I believe that I would simply not feel the same way as I feel right now with leadership. I would be a hoax, because how would I dare lead others If I could not even lead myself?
Mastery of all three pillars has changed my life at LSU for the better, because speaking from the point of view of an LSU senior nearing the end of his undergraduate years, I realize that I haven’t spent my time here in vain. Crossing a few things off of my bucket list, I founded the Badminton Club with my close friends and participated in numerous badminton tournaments; I got more involved in the College of Science with programs like SCI Lead and SOARS; I joined Research Ambassadors - a program that allowed me to express myself as a researcher. Finally, through all of these programs and experiences, I believe that I became a better person in general, someone that is ready to take on any responsibility life throws at me.
My Favorite Quotes:
"Live the life that you're meant to, not the one that you're supposed to." - Jesse James West
"What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." - Socrates
"I chose you when I planned creation." - Ephesians 1:11-12
"Don't ask for a lighter burden, ask for a stronger back." - Chris Heria
"You may have made mistakes, but you are not a mistake." - Psalm 139:13-14
"We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one." - Confucius
"Improvise, adapt, and overcome!" - Clint Eastwood
"If you spend your time chasing butterflies, they'll fly away. If you spend your time making a beautiful garden the butterflies will come to you. And if they don't come, then you still have that beautiful garden." - Anonymous
"Reputation is what people think of you, character is what you are." - Orlando Oxford
"A strong man stands up for himself, a stronger man stands up for others." - Ben The Cow
"I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose." - Loki
Photo Credits: College of Science (home header picture, dear reader headshot, diversity picture), Peter Stewart (scholarship picture), Jason Huang (teaching picture), Pamela Rushing (athletics picture).
