Alumni Check-in: Radika Tan (Class of 2024)

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

A: I live in Atlanta, GA. I’m a sophomore studying behavioral neuroscience at Emory.

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

A: I would say Atlanta is a bit similar to Kaohsiung because it is a relatively big city, but there are also suburban areas around it.

But Atlanta felt much more inconvenient since you need a car to get to different places, and I really miss the mountains and piers in Kaohsiung

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

A: I wake up, go to class, study in between classes, have dinner, attend club meetings, come home to study, and go to bed

Q. What's one thing you miss most about Taiwan?

A: I miss how the food felt so healthy, and everything was very affordable and accessible.

Q. What advice would you give to the HS students?

A: Believe in yourself, keep doing the things that you love doing, and one day they’ll bloom into something meaningful (: Make your college education about yourself, and choose classes that you enjoy and wouldn’t have the chance to take elsewhere!

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

A: I think the rigor of the IB has prepared me to write effectively and hold myself to high standards when completing assignments.

Especially with TOK, it has given me opportunities to explore topics beyond my standard STEM courses. I also learned how to manage my time effectively, balancing academic and extracurriculars.

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

A: I’m excited to travel around the world more, keep learning both in and outside of academics, and gain new experiences!