jenny yin
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Major: Business Honors/Management Information Systems
Year: 2nd
1. Why did you join ABSA?
Like a lot of people who end up joining ABSA, I initially came to UT wanting to avoid Asian culture orgs as much as possible. I grew up with a lot of people who shared a similar background as mine, but coming to UT, I wanted to break out of my so-called “Asian bubble”. However, one of the first friends I met at UT asked me to attend an ABSA interest meeting with her, so I hesitantly joined her. Yet after arriving, I never regretted my decision to come: to me, ABSA seemed to have the perfect balance of professional and social aspects and made me feel extremely welcome and comfortable. In the end, ABSA’s inclusive and friendly environment encouraged me to give it a try, and I ended up staying for good.
2. What is your favorite ABSA memory?
Strangely enough, my favorite ABSA memory was attending a small volunteering event during the beginning of spring semester called Micah 6. After fall semester, I realized I wasn’t attending as many ABSA events as I could have, so I made it a goal to attend more events and become more involved. Micah 6 was the first event I attended after winter break, and although it was early in the morning, the weather was dreary, and the task of serving food was tedious, I ended up really enjoying the event through getting to know other ABSA members and gaining insights from upperclassmen. I think the enjoyment I got from hanging out with others at Micah 6 was what encouraged me to go out to events more regularly and was the start of me feeling more connected to ABSA as a whole. I guess that just goes to show that you never know what you’re going to get, even from the smallest things!
3. What’s your favorite thing about the University of Texas at Austin?
My favorite thing is probably the fact that you’ll never know what’s going to happen to you and what direction you’ll end up taking. You might come to UT thinking that you’ll only want to pursue a certain major/career path, only hang out with a certain group of friends from high school, and only focus on certain things that interest you right now, but your personality and viewpoints can completely change in just a few months. Since coming to UT, I’ve experienced a lot of unexpected events, and I’m really optimistic towards what will happen to me next.
4. If you could give one piece of advice to your freshman self, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get to know new people! Facing the judgment of strangers can be scary, but you’ll miss out on many new friends and experiences if you let fear get the best of you. Now more than ever, it’s important to be confident and to believe in yourself so that you’ll overcome failures more easily and accomplish things other people would be too hesitant to try.
5. What is your dream job?
When I was five years old, I really wanted to be a farmer for a number of reasons: 1) I could wear overalls every day 2) I could live peacefully in a rural setting and admire the vast blue sky, and 3) I could produce so much food to feed so many people. Being a farmer is still the dream for me, but I don’t think I have the willpower to start a farm and gain experience.
6. What is your favorite TV Show/Movie/etc?
I don’t watch TV that often, but my favorite movie of all time is The Princess Bride because the whole thing is a meme, and I laugh like crazy every time I watch it. I tend to like cheesy, old movies in general.
7. What is one thing you love about yourself?
I think I’m really good at empathizing with others, and providing emotional support is something I can always do for my friends. I feel like when other people see that I’m considerate of their time and feelings, they’re more likely to trust me and see me as someone they can rely on.
8. Name the top five things on your bucket list.
Find a hobby
Visit Japan, Korea, and any country in Africa
Learn how to do the worm (or as I call it, the snake) like the true business major I am
Donate $10,000+ to lung cancer research
Attend my little sister’s college graduation ceremony