Haunani Yap

Traveling 10,000 miles away from my family, from the small tropical city-state of Singapore, to Easton and the winters of Pennsylvania, I have molded a home here at Lafayette. My professors and administrators act as my parents, and my friends step in as my siblings. It has been a difficult transition, but I have learned to make the best of what I have. As my Mom always tells me, “the glass is half-full.”

My Lafayette Experience has taught me to take advantage of every opportunity available. This includes studying in Washington D.C., supporting my summer internship, and rediscovering my culture and heritage. My life as a pseudo-international student and quasi-American student has allowed me to make lasting friendships with a wide variety of people.

I enjoy spending time with my fellow international students during lunch in the ISA [International Students Association] room, participating in ISA activities such as dancing the hula at the International Extravaganza, and lounging around the resident hall with my residents. I also volunteer with the Landis Community Outreach Center and help plan activities with the Lafayette Activities Board. I participate in a variety of activities that match my interests and complement different aspects of my personality.

The Lafayette Experience is about taking the reins of opportunity and exploring many paths to your advantage in order to have a successful college career.

In addition, my Lafayette Experience is about having the freedom to grow intellectually with the support of my professors and administrators, and the help of generous endowments. I have learned to become more outgoing in the classroom; speaking up in classes, in lunch and brown-bag lecture discussions, and even among my peers.

Overall, my Lafayette Experience has been about growing, maturing, and developing as a young adult. As always, my glass is indeed half full.