Alicia Cheng '28

Title
Admission Ambassador
Bio/Description

Bridge Year location: Costa Rica
Academic focus: planning on Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE)

Hey everyone! My name is Alicia (she/her), and I am from Hong Kong. I went to Costa Rica for Bridge Year and I am currently a freshman planning on majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) although I was thinking of Psychology at first. I volunteered in two different organizations in Costa Rica. First, I taught a road safety course in a public elementary school to almost 500 children. Afterwards, I worked at a women’s agricultural organization where I worked with root plants to make flour, medicinal plants, honey and ceramics. I absolutely loved both organizations. They both introduced countless soft skills to me. Outside of our work placements, I especially enjoyed our excursions to other towns in Costa Rica to delve deeper into the country’s culture and practices. We went to visit a few indigenous communities, communities along the coast line and in the South. People in Costa Rica are the most genuine people I have met which makes the amazing experiences pass by without even realizing it. 

 

In what ways did Bridge Year challenge you?

My biggest challenge was being the only one with a language barrier. I felt that I was the only participant unable to form a deep connection with locals. As time passed, I connected to others with the experiences we shared rather than relating to our past. Just try to empathise, exerting yourself as much as possible and you will come out just fine. 

What was the best part of Bridge Year for you?

The relationship with my host mom was the best part of my BYP. I learnt most from her - values, perspectives. But most importantly, the importance of family bonds. I learnt to always show your gratitude towards them. Just because they are always present does not mean you should not display your consistent effort into the relationship. 

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