EMPRESS

About me: Although I'm very well-known for being super school-oriented, I do enjoy an eclectic amount of nerdy things: books, some gaming and anime here and there, and a diverse amount of music, from Swedish pop to the typical Asian music scene. My hobbies also consist of daydreaming and writing, but those are usually kept secrets, hehehe. I was in orchestra and marching band for seven years, so I still find music to be an important part of my daily routine. Honey mustard and the color blue, with its various shades, capture my attention. Also, munching on some chips while reading the news (boring -- yes, I know) or watching movies/shows are my typical weekends.

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Why EMPRESS? For a while, I longed for the type of teaming-up, closely-bonded friendships shared by a group of people -- the kind you always see/hear about in TV shows, movies, books, etc. Upon entering UF, I felt like there was always an "out-of-place" air following me, but stumbling upon my first recruitment event -- by chance -- with EMPRESS quickly changed that. Everyone was so encouraging of each other and had a chill vibe; one event led to another, and everything seemed to have timely fallen into place. I realized EMPRESS is a jigsaw puzzle of diversely-shaped pieces and people -- a sisterhood that embraces individuality, but bonded by harmony and belonging. Now, after one year of being in EMPRESS, I have learned that this family not only motivates us to achieve our personal, academic, and extracurricular goals, but also empowers us to grow out of our comfort zones and reach beyond what we knew of ourselves before. Working towards bringing out something that was once small but now everlasting enabled me to realize EMPRESS exists not to be just a title, but one of the largest journeys within your undergraduate story.

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Favorite EMPRESS memory: Usually, when I'm in the car with an EMPRESS girl, I end up learning so much about them, even if we are just completing Average Joe activities, like grocery shopping, or seeking an adventure in the time that we are together. I remember when Jennifer and I were literally parked outside my apartment complex and just sat there for hours, talking about our personal, academic, and future stresses while being chuckling and tearing up at all the stories that were told that night. Also, I really enjoyed the time Jenny and I were parked in front of my apartment eating fast food and talking about our families and personal similarities/differences to keep ourselves company during the winter. Habitually driving in the car with Diana and going to Orlando with EMPRESS for out-of-town probates are just as notable; I guess not having a car ended up having its own special perks.

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