Leah's DuckStory
You would never know that Leah Chan started her career at UO as a shy, uninvolved freshman. Today the busy junior doesn't just participate in the UO community; she's helping strengthen it through her involvement as co-president of the Hong Kong Student Association (HKSA), active member of the UO Wushu team, and talented visual artist.
She recalls, "During my freshman year I didn't participate in any groups. I was too nervous and shy. But once I started to make connections, it really helped. I realized I needed to expand and reach out."
One of the activities that first drew Leah out of her shell was a karate class that met for two hours, twice a week. It was here Leah first glimpsed the sense of community that would come to define her college career. "The time the students spent together created very strong relationships," she remembers. "This class was a very different college experience for me. Instead of a giant lecture course, the small P.E. class allowed us to interact with our classmates more. Through this one course I was able to become close friends with a few people; through the same connection I was introduced to Wushu and HKSA."
Leah also fondly talks about community that's built within the dorms: "It's fun living in the dorms because you can meet so many people living under the same roof. Relationships develop when people live together - sort of like ‘a family' away from your home community. This was especially true when I lived with all the Chinese Flagship students: we all had rice cookers and would often get together to make home-cooked meals."
Leah first became involved with the Hong Kong Student Association, one of the more than 250 student organizations affiliated with the ASUO, when she heard from a friend that they needed a graphic designer. With friends in the UO's Flagship Chinese Language program, a sense of belonging in her dorm life, and a burgeoning involvement in the HKSA, it didn't take long for Leah to feel at home on the UO campus.
Today she is not only extremely involved in the HKSA as co-president, but is also an active member of the UO Wushu team, and the larger campus community. In recent months, she has competed in Wushu competitions in Eugene and California, designed event posters for multiple groups on campus, and donated artwork to campus fundraisers - in addition to the monumental task of organizing and planning the annual Hong Kong Night event. When asked about her dreams for the future, Leah has a specific vision for HKSA - which welcomes all students including those who are Chinese-American, those visiting UO from Hong Kong, and those who simply have an interest in the rich culture of one of the world's most vibrant cities.
"The club's main objective is to share with each other the culture and influence of the region, as well as to reach out to the campus community. I often refer to our group as a family and I hope to continue to nurture and influence these ideas within HKSA."
Inasmuch as Leah has big plans for her role within the campus community, she also has big plans for her career. She is completing a degree in digital arts with an eye towards an MFA at the White Stag in Portland and an internship at a Portland design firm. Most importantly, she is using her time on campus to challenge herself and grow as an artist.
"In a recent art class, we did a simple abstract exercise. We started by covering the paper with charcoal and making patterns with the eraser. After, the professor told us to rip up our drawings and reconstructing them into something new. This experience really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. The end result was astonishing because it forced me to constantly be creative." Reflecting on this experience, Leah believes exercises like this will definitely help her provide a superior product to her clients in the future.
"I love incorporating traditional Chinese art with contemporary western ideas in my pieces," she explains. "But I know that for me to become successful as an designer, I need to expand beyond what appeals to me in order to understand what's best for my clients. Through these simple in-class exercises, the UO is helping me prepare for my digital career."
Leah's involvement and future career path are made possible through a Diversity Building Scholarship which provides a full tuition and fee remission for all four of her years at the UO. It is an award her younger sister, a digital arts major, has received as well. By the time the two sisters graduate, they hope their fifteen year-old brother will follow in their footsteps by coming to the UO where he can follow his interest in architecture.
Leah laughs, "I've been telling him to take more drawing classes to sharpen his skills and become a Duck! The architecture program is phenomenal at the UO and the scholarships are amazing! I would not be in college without scholarships. It has been a tremendous help to my family."
© University of Oregon | Home | Contact Us