Alina Xie

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Major: Accounting

Year: Sophomore

1. Why did you join ABSA?

I approached the ABSA table at my freshman orientation (mainly to cop a free shirt) and as the fall semester started, I went out to the first few interest GMs (mainly for free food). I decided to join because I was looking for a business organization that would help develop me professionally and from the very beginning it was evident that ABSA offered a valuable community of like-minded people who encouraged and helped challenge one another.

2. What is your favorite ABSA memory?

Event planning with my Branch! My previous year as a Corporate Relations Director consisted of planning and hosting 4 large-scale events, and everything from late worknights to early morning setups helped develop close bonds and created unforgettable memories between me, my VP, and my co-directors.

3. What’s your favorite thing about UT Austin?

The greatest things about UT is the location of the campus and the people you’ll meet. Austin’s such a wonderful city with thousands of things to do and places to visit, and UT is conveniently in the middle of it all! It’s hard to get bored when there’s always something new and exciting to explore. Austin’s also a place where people from many diverse backgrounds and identities are able to meet and learn from one another, and the culture of the city just feels so welcoming.

4. If you could give one piece of advice to your freshman self, what would it be?

Allocate time efficiently, and balance your academic and social life carefully. Coming to college, there’s much free time and more specifically, unsupervised free time. Although it’s tempting to spend all your time on things that are fun, it’s important to remember the number one reason why you’re at school: to learn. That being said, it’s also important to not be too wrapped up in maintaining good grades, because while that’s important, it’s also important to experience new things and meet new people that’ll teach you things classes can’t. Also, please save yourself a lot of stress and take University core curriculum classes at a community college…

5. What is your dream job?

If money and energy weren’t considered, I’d want to become a park ranger at a National Park! I grew up with a geologist father who constantly took me with him on field research, and my childhood consisted of lots of hiking, camping, and roaming the wilderness. Realistically though, I want to work for a corporation in the beauty/cosmetic or fashion industry and have the opportunity to travel between the US and Asia. 

6. What’s your favorite TV Show/Movie/etc?

Honestly, I don’t watch shows or movies much, but I do love Asian variety/survival shows, ocean documentaries, and anything related to true crime/conspiracy theories. 

7. What is one thing that you love about yourself?

My ability to understand others. I think empathy is one of the most important traits someone can possess, and I try my best to consider and share the feelings of others in all that I do. 

8. Name the top five things on your bucket list

  1. Hike to the very bottom of the Grand Canyon (and come back up, hopefully)

  2. Visit Italy and see the Birth of Venus painting and the Sistine Chapel ceiling

  3. Own a Shiba Inu dog and/or a Sphynx cat

  4. Swim with manta rays

  5. Donate money I earned towards non-profit organizations I’m passionate towards

    5 ½ . Meet (and marry) Hwang Hyunjin from the K-pop group Stray Kids :’)