The historic Colgate University Class of 2020 is composed of 775 unique individuals that each possess amazing talents, perspectives, and dreams. Meet the personnel.

CHRIS PANG!!!

• First year @’Gate University
• International Student
• Hometown: Hong Kooooooooong

An international student and Class Senator, Chris Pang is a living legend. After only a month, he has become a treasured friend of mine. His motivation and drive is something that one cannot find on any given day. I feel that it is my duty to share with the rest of the campus (and the world) the character that is The Pang.

I learned a lot about Chris after one particular conversation on a beautiful afternoon at the premier Frank Dining Hall… (magical harp plays; screen melts into flashback). Feeling good after just walking out of Professor Hansen’s in-class exam that was a piece of cake (I failed), me and Chrissy P decided to stop by the chow hall for some good old burger and fries. We were sitting in the corner trying to figure out if there were more girls with blonde hair or dudes with khaki shorts when on a whim I asked a question.

“Hey, Chris. Why’d you come halfway around the world just to read some books?”

He said to me, “People in Asia see the United States and the UK as the best places to receive their education. A lot of parents send their kids off so that they can get what they need to get a good job and find work.” That was enough to turn my attention away from a pair of Lily and Lou leggings that had just floated by. “Well, that’s not unconventional, I suppose,” I said. Although not denying the need for a job, Chris-P(chicken tenders)’s motives did not completely fall in sync with his parents' wishes.

“The longer education process in the United States also allows me to have more time to figure out what I want to do, find my passion, you know?”

Aretha Franklin once said, “Respect!” That is what I had for Chris at that moment. He went on to explain why he wants to help people within his lifetime. Understanding how blessed he is to live the life he has, he wants to help those who are less fortunate. He wants to pursue medicine or something in environmental studies for these would have a great impact on the health of others. “This kid has some real ambition…” I thought to myself. He also told me about how he may or may not go back to Hong Kong to start a career. I tried to get a feel for what it must be like to be so far away from home and placed in society with such a contrasting culture from his own. I asked, “C Pangy, my friend, what are the difficult parts about adjusting to life in the United States?” His response made me grateful to be a natural born citizen.

“Well for starters, you don’t have a social security number.”

He said that it was a long and paperwork-filled process to get one and after a month of living on campus, he still had not received it. Without this number, he cannot be paid for his work-study and he can’t apply for a credit card. He now has trouble making payments to his cell carrier because there is no card under his account. On a cultural note, he told me that he missed things that are subtle but substantial parts of culture in Hong Kong. The Chinese zodiac is largely recognized back from where he’s from. He describes the fortunes predicted by the zodiac as ideas meant to improve your life. Despite being superstitious, they provide him and others a sense of ease that allows them to have confidence in their lives. “Burgers and fries cannot compensate” is what Chris told me when talking about the food in Hong Kong. “We ate rice with every meal and they only serve it maybe twice a week here.”

Chris went on to impress me further. He gave me a few words on an issue that involves not just himself, but all international students on campus. Since arriving on campus, Chris has noticed a lack of true integration between the first-year internationals and domestic students. He has recognized that many of the students that come from other countries tend to primarily coalesce with students the same countries. Chris understands that it is still early on for first-years and that many people, including domestic students, have not found their place just yet on this campus. He especially knows that is only natural for those having feelings of being lost in a foreign nation to flock together. “Everyone needs a starting starting point,” Chris said himself. Yet, he wants everyone to know this message:

“We all came to this school to get the most out our tuition and to make the most out of our experience. To do that, we want to meet people from different backgrounds and people with perspectives differing from our own. We want to live in a diverse community. How can we do this when we as individuals only surround ourselves with people that hold perspectives and backgrounds similar to our own?”

Chris admits that this is a tough issue to tackle, but he is dedicated to helping his fellow internationals in the endeavor to make the Colgate campus feel like a new home.

Despite all of the challenges he has come to face since arriving on campus, when I asked him on a scale of 1 to 10 how he would rate his Colgate experience so far, Chris replied with the almighty number 13! Talk about positive attitude! I can’t wait for the road up ahead with this guy! I am truly thankful to be a member of the class of 2020!

(Chris Pang is also a part of the Green Ambassadors program, saxophonist for Colgate’s Jazz Ensemble, dedicated member of the men’s club soccer team, and a DJ for various athletic events! If you run into him, which you likely will, make sure to say “WHADDUP CHRIS-P!!”)