When I was applying to the University of Illinois, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to study. I knew I had a strong interest in business and a background in agriculture, so I wanted a program that blended those two areas. That’s what led me to the Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) program at Illinois.
Growing up, I was surrounded by agriculture—specifically, the swine industry. My father was a swine veterinarian, and my mother worked at the University of Illinois in swine nutrition. When I was nine years old, my family moved overseas to China, where I lived for six years. When I was 15, I decided to return to the U.S. alone to continue my education. It was a major transition, but I had great mentors and guardians who helped me navigate the process. After high school, I took a gap semester before starting college at 20 years old. I also joined the Army National Guard around that time, which significantly broadened my development.
A local farmer I worked for encouraged me to apply to the University of Illinois and even brought me to Homecoming, where I got my first introduction to the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. I remember pulling up to the fraternity house with a car full of belongings, thinking it would take all day to move in. But within minutes, a group of freshmen helped me unload and set up my room. That moment showed me just how tight-knit and supportive the community I would be involved in at Illinois is.
At the beginning of my college career, I wasn’t exactly sure what career path I wanted to pursue after graduation, so I took advantage of different opportunities to explore my options. One summer, I interned at a local seed company in research and development, but that was cut short due to being placed on active duty orders; the seed route wasn’t right for me regardless. The following summer, I did a sales internship with Growmark, where I gained experience working with customers and assisting in account management. While I enjoyed the sales aspect, I knew I didn’t want to focus on selling seeds and chemicals long-term.
It was at a career fair where I connected with a recruiter from PIC, a globally leading pig genetics company. They were interested in my background with pigs and the fact that I speak Mandarin Chinese. That conversation led to an international exports internship with PIC, where I worked on delivering pig genetics to companies in South America and also assisted in the planning and implementation of a multi-million dollar export project to Brazil. Today, I am a full-time sales representative with PIC.
Beyond academics, the relationships I built at Illinois shaped me just as much as my coursework. Whether it was through my fraternity, classmates, or mentors, I was surrounded by people who pushed me to be better. The friendships I made in college will last a lifetime.
My biggest advice for students is to take ownership of your future. A degree is important, but it’s only part of the equation. The real key to success is seeking out opportunities—whether that’s internships, networking, or developing valuable skills in your field. The College of ACES offers so many resources, but you have to take the initiative to use them. Don’t just go through the motions of earning a degree—actively build your future while you’re here.