【Alumni Stories】An Interview with Alvin Yao (Class of 2019): Wondrous Words of Wisdom

As AAIA marches proudly into its ninth year, many of our alumni have begun graduating from college, becoming accomplished global citizens and trailblazers in their respective fields. One such distinguished fellow Lion is Alvin Yao of the Class of 2019, who is part of AAIA’s very first graduating class and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Data Science at the University of Chicago, after graduating from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

We recently had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Alvin, who has shared some helpful tips and words of encouragement for our high school students!

Q: What are some of the main differences between high school and college life?

Alvin: I’d say the biggest difference between high school and college life is independence. For many kids, college is probably the first time in their lives that they are making decisions on their own without their parents’ input. I see this as an opportunity for character development (so for any parents reading this, college is the time to let your kid go). You will make many mistakes and setbacks, and that’s okay. You will learn from them, and they will make your wins so much sweeter.

Q: Is there anything about college life that surprised you, that you hadn’t really expected as a high school student?

Alvin: Before I went off to college, I had this expectation that I would constantly be surrounded by people, making new friends, and trying new things. However, what I found about college (and adult life in general) is that time is often spent alone. But that’s a good thing. You need time to be by yourself – to unwind, to recharge, to reflect. Trust me, you will want some alone time after partying for three nights in a row.

Q: Do you have any tips for students intending to pursue graduate school?

Alvin: If you have graduate school in your future plans, I strongly recommend three things: build relationships with your professors and mentors, maintain a strong GPA, and develop relevant work experiences. This can also apply to people not seeking graduate school.

Having a good relationship with professors goes a long way, as they can be resources for future employment, recommendations, and mentorship. This can start by staying a few minutes after class to ask the professor some questions, or showing up for office hours, etc.

A strong GPA is paramount to many graduate programs. Freshman year has most of the general requirement courses and intro-level courses, so this is your chance to get a high GPA to start with. It’s easier to maintain a good GPA than to chase a good GPA later on.

Having relevant work experience, whether it be research or internships, is important for both prospective graduate students and people looking to land a job post-grad. It’s never too early to start your LinkedIn profile and resume.

Q: What are some habits you would recommend high school students to start building up for college?

Alvin: Having independence sounds great, but that also means no one else will give you the structure in life that you grew up with. Therefore, you have to start building a lifestyle that works for you. I highly recommend getting started on a time management tool, whether it be Google Calendar, Notion, or even a physical planner. Be familiar with a system and let it help you stay organized.

Q: What’s your take on students pursuing hobbies / extracurricular passions? How easy (or common) is that to do in college?

Alvin: This is an absolute must in my opinion. I went to a large state school, so there was a little bit of everything. This is many students’ chance to get out of their comfort zone. And yes, it will feel a bit daunting at first, but people are more welcoming than you think. Some of my greatest passions and best friends are made through the extracurricular activities I participate in aside from my classes.

Q: Do you think it’s important for students to pay attention to current events?

Alvin: I know this phrase is cliché, but we do, in fact, live in a society. Everything we do is related to a broader context. No matter what field you study in, there will certainly be some aspect of it influenced by some historical context. It is helpful to understand how the world works, and the underlying structures that facilitate how our society functions. Even from a completely shallow perspective, you don’t want to be the only person in the room who doesn’t know what everyone else is talking about.

Q: Lastly, do you have any words of encouragement and wisdom for our current seniors (Class of 2025)?

Alvin: I didn’t believe this when people told me this, but the next three to four years truly will be your best years. Cherish every moment you can because it WILL fly by.

Stay tuned for our next installment of an “Interview with an Alumnus/na”, and likely a sneak peek into our upcoming Alumni Network, where graduates will be able to connect with Alvin and many other distinguished Lions!

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