Alumni Check-in: Sherryn Lo (Class of 2025)

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

A: I’m currently at Oxford, Georgia, studying at Oxford College of Emory University. Oxford is a small city located 40 minutes' drive away from Atlanta. A fun fact about the Oxford campus is that it is actually the original campus of Emory University! I’m there for the first two years of college. The difference between Emory University and Oxford College is that Oxford promotes a smaller college size and a core curriculum, serving more as a liberal arts college than a regular college. 

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

A: One of the biggest differences that I find hard to like, accept, is that it is not as environmentally friendly as Kaohsiung. It isn’t just Oxford, Atlanta, or Georgia; it is a whole United States problem. For example, in Taiwan, we started banning plastic usage for items like take-out boxes, boba cups, straws, etc. However, I see plastic EVERYWHERE in the United States.

The take-out boxes that the dining hall provides, the cups that the on-campus café uses, are all plastic. And people, I think, generally don’t think much about it. I would say that the biggest similarity is the weather. During the summer times, it was SO SO hot, just like Kaohsiung. It is also not as dry as other cities that I’ve been to in the United States. So I would say that the weather helped me a lot in terms of getting used to life there.

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

A: For me, a typical day is to wake up, depending on what time classes are on. If I have an 8:30 class, I have to wake up before 8:17. Again, this is one of the advantages of Oxford College. You can basically wake up 13 minutes before class and still get to class on time.

After class, I will go to the on-campus café with my friends, get bagel and lox (special requirement: no capers and no cream cheese), and eat in the library. After getting filled with food, I’ll just go to other classes. Classes are usually an hour and 15 minutes long, twice a week.

And boom, lunch time! I usually eat at the dining hall, but after eating there for a semester, I kind of got tired of it. So at the end of the semester, I would usually go to the other food place on campus and get a Korean bulgogi rice bowl (included in meal swipe!) And then I usually take a nap before my afternoon classes. After class, I sometimes travel to the other campus for club meetings, and sometimes study and do homework with my friends. And then it is nighttime time and I am hungry, so sometimes I will cook in my room. In the winter, 4 fireplaces will be set up on campus, and sometimes my friends and I will chat there and eat marshmallows. 

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

A: I think it is the ability to be in Taiwan and have access to my favorite food all the time. Cuz like lowkey, college is easier than IB! So if you get through IB, everything will be fine!

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: This is a very hard question. I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that in the real world, friendships aren't as fixed or defined as they might feel in high school. At KAS, it's easy to get caught up in your friend group. But in the real word, it is important to  be open and embrace different values. Because there are only like what, 70 people in a grade? In real life, people come from all walks of life, and being able to engage with different perspectives helps you grow and see the world in a richer way.

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

A: It’s okay to fail sometimes cuz like everything was hard. IB, leading a club, balancing extracurricular and school work, etc. Don’t be too harsh on yourself (I actually wasn’t harsh).  

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

A: Yes, definitely, especially IB. Even though IB was super stressful and annoying, it was pretty worthwhile. Seeing how some of my friends are struggling in college, I believe that IB does make you more prepared. Also, being able to be an executive of clubs and participating in running a club improve leadership skills and communication skills, which are all useful in college.

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

A: Looking forward to graduating and either finding a job or going into graduate school. I’m still not sure about my future plans, but I’m pretty sure that I will figure them out. 

Q. Anything else? 

A: Don’t worry too much about not getting into a college or, like, your future in general. I always believe that everything will be fine at the end, all you have to do is to work as hard as possible, and god will help you!