BuahPi Ciin

Why did you choose to major in business and management?

I chose business because I wanted to go into accounting. It's a field I felt I can develop my strengths in, and I know that I can create a career out of it as soon as I graduate. That was mainly my focus.

Can you talk about why you joined Union Board and ran for Student Senate?

I joined Union Board because, especially after COVID last year, I wanted to be more involved. And I wanted to be a part of the creative process of putting on events and ensuring that students have a good time on campus.

I ran for class senator because I noticed there were a lot of things that the student body wanted to fix. And again, like with Union Board, I wanted to be a part of advocating for that and to have a sense of voice for my class.

What brought you to Knox?

I was very focused on making sure that I attended a liberal arts college. It's also only about three hours away from St. Louis, which is where I'm from. I came to visit the campus, and at first I was like, oh, man, it's such a small town. But then I met the people and I loved the community here, especially the Queer community in particular. That was not something that I saw on a lot of other college campuses.

Was having a Queer community important to you when you were looking for colleges?

Initially, that wasn't the focus. That wasn't a priority. I was very much focused on the educational aspect. But then I noticed that this is something that had set Knox apart from other colleges. So I saw that, and I like that. It definitely was a factor in my decision.

What does being a first-generation student mean to you?

Being a first-gen is something that I take a lot of pride in. An opportunity for higher education is a privilege my family hasn't had before. Though there have been many challenges along the way, the support I receive from TRIO, my advisors, and the communities at Knox has been tremendous. My first year at Knox was a difficult one for me. I felt immense pressure working multiple jobs and having families back home still depending on me, while trying to stay on top of my classwork and maintaining an active social life. However, it was the communities at Knox that I had been fortunate enough to be a part of that reminded me that I wasn't alone in these challenges. With their support, I am grateful to be where I am today, a soon-to-be first-gen graduate. 

What would you say to someone considering going to Knox?

I would say get a big winter coat. But also, you're going to go through so much in the four years that you're here. I think that I had very specific expectations coming into Knox: I wanted to be career-focused and to do all these things. But I would tell new students to just enjoy every bit of it. In my first year, I really rushed into a lot of things. And I kept forgetting to enjoy, and that's something that I'm trying to do now. Prioritize your time here and just be present.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just get involved and get to know people. Knox is a relatively small school, but that doesn't mean you can't go out and explore and meet a diverse group of students because it's super diverse. That's something that I really love about Knox.