Civil engineering and management major: Manchester, Vt.

Why Bucknell?

“I was actually planning on going to Brigham Young University, but Bucknell was pretty close to it alphabetically in one of those college books. The book described it well and talked about how there was a strong academic core, especially in engineering. It just sounded like a place that would fit me.

“We came to visit and even though it was a cold, rainy day, I got a really good feeling about the campus and the students. It just felt like home in a way. So, I didn’t visit any other colleges and applied here early decision.”

Academic opportunities

“I appreciate how the professors push you to be creative. They really give you opportunities. It’s not just projects that have been done time and time again.

“I came in wanting to do mechanical engineering. Your first year, you do an engineering class that gives you a perspective on all the different majors. It’s great that they do that. I realized that civil engineering was more something I’d want to do for the rest of my life.”

“I’d like to focus on a career that has to do with energy and energy resources. Finding new sources and maximizing the potential we already have. Also, with management as my second major, I’ll be able to understand more how that side works.”

University support

“After my first year, I took two years off to serve a mission for my church. I learned Vietnamese, and spent most of my time in Vietnamese communities in San Jose, Calif.

“The University was great with helping me come back; with financial aid, housing, and everything. It’s not so much an institution as — ‘family’ is such an overused term — the University helps you get where you want to go.”

New activities, new people

“I expected to play golf, but I didn’t make the team. I found so many other things to do without even trying that I wasn’t bothered by it at all. The campus is alive. You don’t have to go off campus to find activities.

“Intramural sports are great. It’s a very athletic campus, and even if people aren’t good at sports, it seems like they still want to play. I even tried some I’d never played before, like volleyball and softball.

“I was the assigning editor for the sports section in The Bucknellian. I started off writing articles on the men’s water polo team, but I’d never watched a game of water polo in my life.

“I met a lot of new people. One of the things I most look forward to is the interaction with all the different students, all the different backgrounds. That’s facilitated by the programs at Bucknell, and the way the school is run.”

More of My Interests

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters
• Intramural sports
• The Bucknellian
• Student Calling Program