As we head into the second quarter of school, the Eagle Eye caught up with a handful of last year’s seniors to find out how they were doing in college.

Cameron Pien (’23) – Cornell University
Former Eagle Eye Editor-in-Chief Cameron Pien (’23) stands on a bridge inside on of Cornell University’s libraries. (Photograph courtesy of Cameron Pien.)
How has school been so far?

College has been very intellectually stimulating and inspiring! The array of subjects I can learn about is so wide, and professors here are very passionate and knowledgeable about what they’re teaching, especially if it’s a very niche subject (for example, I’m in a seminar about theater in rural America). My peers are also very friendly and approachable, I’ve found that the idea that East Coast people are rude definitely doesn’t apply here. 

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

The transition from a small high school like HBA to a large university can definitely be jarring. There’s an abundance of extracurricular opportunities here, which is very exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. I’m finding that I have to be a lot more discerning and disciplined with my time, because I can’t do everything, so I’m in the process of figuring out what my true passions are while also trying new things. On a more positive note, the Christian community here is very welcoming and supportive, which I’m really thankful for! It was very important to me to build strong roots and keep pursuing God while I’m in college, and the campus fellowships here have helped me a lot with that.

Megan Lee (’23), University of Southern California
Former Eagle Eye staffer Megan Lee (’23) gets ready to move in to USC. (Photograph courtesy of Megan Lee.)
How has school been so far?

School definitely has its ups and downs, but I think I’ve had a good experience so far. It was a bit of an adjustment during my first few weeks at college. A lot of things were new for me – new school, new people, new place, and new living situation. From the start, I knew I had to build good habits and a functional daily routine to balance my schoolwork, extracurriculars, and social life. During the first day of classes, one of my professors emphasized how we should utilize our time in college. He told us that university is meant to be “universal,” an environment for us to explore our passions and foster new interests. I found that idea to be true. I’m realizing how I’m surrounded by a wealth of knowledge through my professors and provided numerous resources through my classes and the school’s facilities. I’ve enjoyed my time meeting people from around the world and learning about a wide range of topics, from dance in popular culture to computer-aided design. Although academics can be draining on some days, I’ve had a lot of time to explore the city with my friends, visiting bookstores, coffee shops, and beaches on weekends.

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

I think the biggest challenge has been adjusting to the independence of college life. Unlike high school where classes run consecutively, my class schedule tends to span throughout the day since I live on-campus. I have a lot of free time, so I have to be more intentional with planning my study time and meals in between those breaks. Returning back to the idea of more freedom, the school offers a lot of cool events through its clubs and organizations, and people are always trying new things. With so much going on, sometimes I feel a little F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) when I know I have to prioritize studying for an upcoming test, attending an important meeting, or even self care. I try to remind myself that I have the next four years to try the fun things that I want to do. Recognizing my personal needs and limits has been challenging but helpful. Also, waking up for my 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. classes is becoming progressively more difficult for me, especially in the midst of midterm season. 

Caley Chun (’23), University of California: Davis
Former HBA student Caley Chun poses inside her dorm as she gets ready to start her school year. (Photograph courtesy of Caley Chun)
How has school been so far?

I’m currently on week 1 of the 10-week fall quarter at UC Davis. Because of the quarter system, we have 6 fewer weeks than one would in a semester system to cover everything. So, I’ve already gotten a hefty amount of reading for my New Testament class and a ton of chemistry homework – but I enjoy the short lectures and having more time to do things on my own.

Have there been any suprises or challenges?

Moving from HBA to UC Davis, I already expected that there would be a larger student population. What surprised me was how large the campus and lecture halls are. I do love the community because everyone gets around on a bike, and it’s a cute little college town with a bunch of diverse food options and cute little boba shops. The biggest challenge for me would be the intensity of the classes. The professors do not joke around. Yet, they ultimately want us to succeed and provide us with many resources to excel in the class. Overall, I find the challenge of harder coursework and a new environment really exciting.

Lauren Chee (’23) University of Hawaii
HBA Class of 2023 graduate Lauren Chee takes a selfie outside one of the buildings at the University of Hawaii, Mānoa. (Photograph courtesy of Lauren Chee)
How has school been so far?

Interesting. At UH you see all different kinds of people and it’s a real reflection of the diversity in Hawaii, which I appreciate a lot. I’m taking Gen. Ed. classes right now so nothing too difficult but I’ve already had 3 midterms and I have another one next week. There’s a lot of independence which can be a good thing and a bad thing. You learn how to be way more responsible for your own schedule and work and you’ll probably be on your own most of the time, so it’s important to learn how to be satisfied with yourself and confident in your abilities.

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

The first few weeks were ROUGH for me because UH is such a drastic chance from being at super small school like HBA. The entire HBA population can probably fit in my psychology lecture hall and the seats are really close together so you’ve got like six inches of personal space on either side if you sit in the middle.

Shane Kawakami-Williams (’23) Occidential College
HBA Class of 2023 graduate Shane Kawakami-Williams takes a photo inside his dorm just after settling in. (Photograph courtesy of Shane Kawakami-WIlliams)
How has school been so far?

School has low-key been sick so far and I really like college life and living alone and the actual academics so far are very nice. 

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

Probably the biggest surprise is how like good the food it is because no matter the day or time of day it usually ends up actually being really nice food. I was also surprised by how nice the track team is and how the team is honestly like a pretty small size (smaller than HBA). The biggest challenge so far might be like time management like between sports, school, social life, and other stuff I like to do. It’s hard to manage my time well and make sure I stay on track all the time.

Trislyn Maeda (’23) Pacific Lutheran University
HBA Class of 2023 graduate Trislyn Madea takes a selfie while walking the sidewalks of the Pacific Lutheran University. (Photograph courtesy of Trislyn Maeda.)
How has school been so far?

School has been pretty good. The weather in Washington has been bearable for sure. The sun is still out and only recently has it rained past the morning, so I think I still have some optimism left for the rest of the year in terms of the weather. My classes have been pretty decent thus far. There’s surely a lot of reading in college. Everyone is really nice here and I’m just really excited to meet more people as the year goes on.

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

I think some thing that surprises me or has been a challenge is just making a good set of friends. College is different in the sense that not everyone has the same schedules as you, like how it is in high school. Especially without a sport or coming from having played a sport I realize that I have been really fortunate in the past to have a great group of friends that I gained from playing basketball. When you play sport you automatically have a least 10 other friends. So I guess for me it’s more so about putting myself out there and making the constant effort to keep in touch with people and establish a friendship. I’ve met a lot of great people, and I am super excited to see where the year and God takes me.

Elisha Lum (’23) University of Hawaii, Mānoa
Elisha Lum (’23) and former Eagle Eye staffer Noah Hu (’23) stop for picture during a chemistry lab at college. (Photograph courtesy of Elisha Lum.)
How has school been so far?

So far school has been pretty good. Because my classes aren’t super early, it’s been comfortable waking up at ten in the morning to go to class.

Have there been any surprises or challenges?

So far, the biggest shock of college life is how much freedom and free time you have. I didn’t expect how everyone kind of just leaves after school or just hangs around. Overall college has been pretty good, but I’m unsure how things will go once I start taking harder classes.