Alumni Check-in: Emilia Perdomo (Class of 2025)

Q. Where do you live now? Why? What are you doing? 

A: I currently live in Tegucigalpa, the capital of my home country Honduras. Being back home has honestly been really special, it's a  beautiful tropical country with so much nature and warmth. I’m studying at UNITEC (Universidad Tecnologica Centroamericana), a private university, where I am majoring in Business Administration and Business Analytics. 

One of my favorite parts of this stage of my life has been making so many new college friends and experiencing a lot more independence. It feels exciting to grow,make my own decisions and slowly build that future that I want. 

Q. What are the biggest differences between there and Kaohsiung? What’s the biggest similarities? 

A: One of the biggest differences is the pace of life. Kaohsiung is very fast paced, organized while life in Honduras is more relaxed and centered around  family and relationships.

Another big difference is obviously the language, spanish is spoken everywhere here, which is a lot easier for me to communicate.. As for similarities, both places are warm, in both honduras and taiwan the food, my friendships and family played a huge role in my everyday life.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?

A: A typical day for me usually starts with my university classes. I drive there every morning  and I always try to leave early so I can find a good parking space and avoid feeling rushed. Once I’m on campus, my day is usually filled with lectures, and keeping up with assignments.

After classes, I often stay to study or work on group projects with friends. We usually review material together  or just help each other understand difficult topics.

Outside of academics, I try to balance my responsibilities with spending time with the people I care about. Sometimes that means grabbing coffee with friends, eating out with family or just having a small break to relax and catch up. Even though my schedule can get busy, especially with all the studying, I try my best to stay organized.

Q. What's one thing you miss most about being a high school student?

A: What I miss most about being a high school student is the time I spent with my friends every single day. There was something special about seeing the same people daily, sharing inside jokes, working on projects together, and just laughing in between classes.

I also miss the classes themselves, not just the subjects, but the teachers and the environment that made learning feel structured and familiar. On top of that, I really miss all the activities I was able to be part of. Whether it was events, clubs, or school traditions, those experiences made high school feel exciting and full of life. 

Q. What's the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the "real world" that you wish you knew while you were in high school? 

 A: Honestly, no one is going to chase you to get things done. You have to be responsible for yourself. Time management is EVERYTHING.

Q. What advice would you give to your high school self?

A: Stop overthinking. Not everything is that deep. Take more risks, join the thing, apply for the opportunity, talk to new people.

Q. Did your KAS experience prepare you for life after graduation?

A: Yes, it definitely did. KAS helped me build discipline, responsibility  and communication skills. The workload and expectations actually prepared me for what comes after high school.

Q. What are you looking forward to most in the next five years?

A: I’m looking forward to growing into my career, becoming more independent and achieving the goals I’ve been working toward. I’m excited to see how much I can grow personally and professionally.

Q. Anything else? 

A: I’ll always be grateful for the memories, friendships and lessons that shaped me, but if I could give one piece of advice, it would be this, don’t rush it… High school feels long when you’re in it, but it goes by so fast. Appreciate the normal days, not just the big events.

Don’t stress over every single grade like it’s the end of the world. Do your best, but also make time for your friends, take pictures, go to the games, join the activities. Step out of your comfort zone. Talk to new people. Try new things.

Even the stressful moments matter  they help you grow. Just don’t forget to actually live while you’re there… 

At the same time, choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with people who motivate you, respect you  and want to see you succeed. The right circle makes all the difference!