Advice to new UC students: Get involved

Morgan, a native of Canal Fulton, Ohio, graduated from Jackson High School, and is offering some advice for the newest group of Bearcats coming to campus.

She suggests checking out Bearcats Welcome, a host of activities across campus that range from social to educational events that started in early August and continues into September.

“As a new Bearcat you just have to jump in,” says Morgan. “This is the first year we are doing the Bearcat Welcome for four weeks instead of one welcome week. Take advantage of all those opportunities and go to as many events as possible. 

“Get to know people in as many student organizations as possible,” she continues. “Then start to narrow it down after those four weeks and figure out which ones you want to invest in and which ones are more fun to just attend the events they host.”

Morgan got involved in the college’s CEAS Tribunal which represents students in the college on all relevant issues, specifically with curriculum, academic and professional standards and university and college computing services. It also assists the students with professional, social and leadership development.

Morgan says students have expressed concern about growth at UC and whether there is infrastructure to accommodate it. She says students have expressed concern about Wi-Fi and its availability as the student population continues to grow.

Pham is a native of Vietnam who first arrived in Seattle, Washington, on a student visa to complete high school and earn an associate degree in chemistry at a community college. He met a UC recruiter at a college fair and eventually came to Cincinnati.

Pham moved to the United States while the rest of his family stayed in Vietnam. He learned that putting yourself out there pays dividends and suggested that new UC students do the same.

“Despite all that anxiety you have, and I had it when I first started, it is just overthinking and being afraid of a new environment,” says Pham. “Everyone has been very welcoming at UC. If I had not put myself out there and been vulnerable with the people I work with, I would never have found my community and be as engaged as I am now. Don’t be afraid.”

Pham says it can be tough for international students coming to a community where there may be very few individuals they can connect with who share their culture, language, customs and appearance. He didn’t have much advice when arriving in Cincinnati.

Pham has been active in the college’s CEAS Tribunal as well and is now part of the roster of students who offer tours for prospective engineering students at CEAS.

“If you want to do something just do it,” says Pham. “If there is no precedent, just do it yourself, be the first. I was the first in my family to move here and I don’t regret it at all. I am often the only Vietnamese person in my class, but I create community out of it.”

Pham completed a summer co-op with Givaudan, an international flavoring company, and Avery Dennison, an Ohio-based paper and materials company. UC’s top ranked co-op program is what initially attracted Pham to Cincinnati. “It is the driving factor that made me want to come to UC,” he notes.

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