My Journey
My path has never been a straight line. It is a collection of places, people, and moments that shaped how I see the world and the work I want to do.
Pharmaceutical Company — Starting Point
My first full-time job was at a pharmaceutical company with more than 4,000 employees. I worked in Human Resources — recruiting new employees, training them, preparing presentations, helping with budgets, and coordinating across departments.
I was lucky to have supportive managers who believed in me. I worked on a three-month internal project where I helped create a company history book, an internal documentary, and advertisement materials. At the end of that year, I received the “Employee of the Year” award.
That job taught me something important: I wanted to challenge myself beyond the life I already knew. It gave me the courage to leave everything familiar and come to the United States.
Nonprofit — Learning What People Need
Later, I worked at a nonprofit supporting a senior housing community with 128 apartments. I helped residents navigate daily needs — especially healthcare issues. I scheduled medical appointments, contacted hospitals and clinics, translated between English, Mandarin, and organized health-related workshops.
Many of the seniors were immigrants with limited English. I saw how confusing the U.S. healthcare system can be, and how easily important information gets lost. One family struggled to understand how to use an oxygen tank after a hospital discharge. Another received an unexpected bill because no one explained their options.
I loved that job because helping people — truly helping them — felt meaningful in a way I couldn’t ignore.
Working With Students — Patience, Care, and Curiosity
I first became a math tutor in college. At that time, I worked inside entire classrooms as an embedded tutor.
Two years ago, I began tutoring again — this time one-on-one, and always in person, because I love connecting with people face-to-face instead of through a screen.
Since then, I’ve worked with many students from 6th grade through college, and I care deeply about their growth.
I think constantly about how to help each student understand math in a way that feels natural, patient, and kind. Every student learns differently. Every family brings a different story. And I feel honored to be part of their journey.
Where I'm Going
Across all these roles — HR, nonprofit work, and teaching — one idea kept returning to me: I want to use mathematics, statistics, and data to do something that matters.
My long-term goal is to continue toward a PhD and build a career that brings together my technical training and my lived understanding of how people experience systems, especially in healthcare and community settings.
My journey is still unfolding. But every step has taught me something valuable, and every experience carries me a little closer to the work I hope to do.