Why did you choose to major/minor in East Asian Languages & Cultures?
I was adopted from China at the age of three and in addition, I have always loved history. I saw the EACL major as a perfect opportunity to further explore the history, culture and language of my birth country from a humanities perspective.
What is your current job and/or career path?
I am currently in the first of my two-year assignment as a Teach For America Corps Member in Tulsa, Oklahoma, teaching fifth grade self-contained.
What are your future educational and/or professional goals?
I am currently pursuing a Master's Degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Education. In addition, I am considering obtaining a doctorate in school administration in the not too distant future.
How has the EALC program helped you develop and pursue your professional goals?
EALC is an incredibly demanding and rigorous department. The skills I developed in order to read copious amounts of articles and literature, write research papers, and complete the thesis project have allowed me to adjust to the challenges of being a first-year teacher while simultaneously participating in a Masters program. In addition, I would say the opportunity to study abroad in China helped me adjust to moving to a new city over 1,600 miles away from home.
What advice do you have for incoming/potential majors (and minors)?
First of all, take advantage of the wonderful professors at both Haverford and Bryn Mawr. Although I loved learning about EALC, the relationships and mentorships I developed with my professors in the department made the experience of majoring in EALC standout. Second, although my career path is not directly connected with EALC, the experience of majoring in EALC is something I would do all over again as it helped shape me into the person I am today.