05-06-2024
My journey at Purdue has been full of surprises and unexpected turns. Even before coming to West Lafayette three years ago, I surprised many of my friends and family by choosing to study finance at Purdue instead of a college closer to my hometown of Columbus, Indiana. Growing up in one place gave me the itch for adventure, and I saw Purdue as a great opportunity to spread my wings and meet new people while being a little further from home. Beyond the adventure aspect, I was impressed by Purdue’s data-driven business focus. When I applied, I was ready to move a few hours north to West Lafayette!
Once I arrived on campus, I was excited to dive right into things. During my first few weeks, I explored a bunch of clubs and student organizations, but I wasn’t expecting to join anything related to my Asian heritage. Growing up as a first-generation Asian American, my heritage wasn’t something I actively embraced beyond family celebrations and holidays, mainly because Columbus has a small Asian community. So, you can imagine my surprise when I found out Purdue’s Asian community wasn’t small at all! I discovered tons of Asian interest groups during new student events, completely reshaping my campus involvement plans.
After attending many events and trying different clubs, I decided to stick with two. First, I joined alpha Kappa Delta Phi, an Asian-interest sorority. If you would have told me in high school that I’d join a sorority, I wouldn’t have believed you. I hadn’t even heard of an Asian-specific sorority, so I was skeptical when I went to my first rush event. That all changed when I met some members of aKDPhi and tasted the sisterhood and camaraderie, which ultimately made me want to join!
During my freshman year, I also joined the Asian Student Union Board, which oversees 29 Asian student organizations. I admired the leaders in ASUB and loved how I could empower other Asian students to connect the greater Purdue community with our culture and heritage.
The deeper I became involved in ASUB and my sorority, the more I appreciated aspects of my culture that I didn’t experience as much growing up. As a kid in Columbus, I never thought much about celebrations like Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month. But, as an involved Purdue student, I now celebrate my heritage with Asian students from all over the world!
I loved organizing Taste of Asia, an Asian celebration and tabling event that features the many ASUB clubs. For the event, our ASUB team encourages each club to cater or cook their favorite Asian dish and sell it to fund their club. The food is delicious, and it reminds me of when my dad would make Hong Kong BBQ pork ribs and other Chinese foods for my family. Since my parents are from China, eating traditional Asian food is important to us, and having events like the gala reminds me of times spent with my family.
Since coming to Purdue, not everything has been easy. On top of trying to find my place on campus, I felt the pressure to secure an internship. I remember seeing high-performing friends land internships at the end of their first year, and their achievements filled me with a sense of anxiety and urgency. Though I applied for an internship at a technology firm at the end of my freshman year, I was turned away. That rejection was tough to swallow, but once again, my Purdue friends rallied around me and reminded me why Purdue is my home away from home.
Many of the reassurances and support came from sisters at aKDPhi. They knew how badly I wanted the position, but they told me that college life is about more than securing internships. They encouraged me to spend the summer doing what brought me joy and to return with an even better idea of what I wanted to do in the long term.
While it was hard to accept the missed opportunity, my sisters couldn’t have been more right. I returned during my sophomore year with a clearer focus. I spent the school year reinventing my skills and sharpening my toolbox, ultimately leading to an offer from the same company for the upcoming summer. If I hadn’t had the support of my sisters at Purdue, I wouldn’t have approached the disappointment in the constructive way that I did!
Reflecting on the opportunities I’ve had to embrace my heritage at Purdue, I’ve been so fortunate. I have amazing student mentors helping me learn to lead in the Asian community and the business school. One of my biggest role models is Enya Song, the previous president of aKDPhi, which I now lead. Not only does Enya share my cultural background, but she has helped me navigate the challenges of leading others. Enya gave me great advice about balancing the presidency and my personal life. She taught me that when things get hectic, it’s OK to take a step back, collect myself and look at a situation with fresh eyes. Enya also helped me understand that everyone will have questions for me, and I won’t have all the answers. I’ve grown in my ability to ask for help and admit when I don’t know the answer. I wouldn’t have learned as quickly if it wasn’t for her guidance!
As I look to the future, I’m excited to continue learning and leading within the Asian community at Purdue. There’s so much to discover, and the best gift of being a Boilermaker is building relationships with all the unique people!
Also, if you’re unsure about joining a club or looking for a sign to get involved, THIS IS IT! The beauty of student organizations is that they’re tailored to your capacity. Do you only have time for one meeting a week? Join a committee! Want to get more involved in decision-making? Run for a leadership position! You never know how a simple step of faith might transform your college experience, just like it did for me.
Helena Ho is a junior from Columbus, Indiana, studying finance with a concentration in International Business. As a student, Helena has served in multiple leadership positions for alpha Kappa Delta Phi, including as president of her local chapter, and as treasurer for the Taste of Asia Committee. Helena is also an active member of Larsen Leaders Academy and will work as an intern for Textron in Providence, Rhode Island in summer 2024.
