What we do to prepare students to be leopards

I was enthusiastic to visit Lion Park—a wildlife sanctuary and lion breeding center—in Johannesburg, South Africa, because I have always had a deep love for wildlife. Getting this close to the animals furthered my love for them and made me realize animal welfare is my passion, which I hope to pursue for the rest of my life.

I’m standing at IFL (Institute of Foreign Language), one of the most well-known institutions in Cambodia. I spent most of my time there as a scholarship student studying, researching, and volunteering in school events. I have always loved spending time in school, and IFL gave me a sense of belonging.

This picture of me with two of my cows is just a snapshot of my wild life, raising chickens, ducks, pigs, and cows. It always comes as a shock when people from urban areas are perplexed at the sight of a farm because the rural lifestyle is just ingrained into my personality and life. This picture represents the humility that I plan to carry in all my endeavors in the future, especially at Lafayette.

Leave it all out on the field. This is the motto that I strive to follow every time I set foot onto a softball field. I wear my mud-ridden uniform with pride because it is a physical reminder of how aggressively I ran the bases and how hard I dove after ground balls in the infield. I put forth a strong effort to play every softball game with determination and grit. Additionally, I put forth this same type of determination in the classroom and the community. I do everything that I can to perform well. Some performances aren’t always as visible as a dirty uniform, but my motto is always there.