Catherine Jhong ’24 (CLAS) knew that UConn was the perfect size university to branch out and meet new people. Originally from New Jersey, Jhong is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in political science. As she looks toward her future, she’s grateful for the people she’s met and the personal connections she’s made over the last four years.
Why did you choose to go to UConn?
I knew I wanted to be a little bit farther from home, so UConn was the perfect distance. I was also undecided when I came to UConn, but I saw how many different majors and programs there were. I thought it’d be a great place to explore exactly what I wanted to do in the future.
Did you have a favorite professor or class?
I took a philosophy logic class, and it was so interesting because it was similar to writing a geometric proof. I thought I was going to hate it because I hated it in my high school math classes. But taking logic showed me that philosophy is much more interdisciplinary than what people think. The professor was Keith Simmons, and he was awesome; I loved him.
What activities were you involved in as a student?
I’m in a sorority, Alpha Phi, where I was vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and participated in HuskyTHON for three years. For the last two years, I’ve worked at the Center for Career Development, and I also work at the cafes on campus. I’m always at Bookworms. I was also president of the Undergraduate Philosophy Society.
What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
Something that continues to surprise me is that you think it’s such a big school, and yet everybody knows everyone else somehow. Everyone is connected, and it feels like I have so many mutuals with other people, which I love. It just was not something I was expecting when I first came here.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I’m going to Europe for a few weeks after graduation, and then after that, I am moving to Manhattan to start a new job with a company called AlphaSights. I’ll be working in the Manhattan office as a client services associate.
How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
UConn has been instrumental in preparing me for life after getting my degree, especially in terms of building connections. For example, one of the girls who was in my sorority and graduated a couple of years ago is working at the company I’ll be going to after graduation. I also know someone else from UConn through a mutual friend who’s working there. It’s such a small world.
Any advice for incoming students?
Be as involved as possible. In your first week or two of college, walk around your dorm, knock on people’s doors, and say hi to people. Join clubs, meet people, and be as friendly and outgoing as possible. You can always be looking to make connections and friendships.
What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
In light of the recent championship, you have to go to basketball games. There is no other school in the world that does basketball as well as we do, so you have to go to as many games as possible.
What will always make you think of UConn?
I spent the Spring 2022 semester in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill as a part of the Honors Congressional Internship program so, whenever someone mentions D.C., the government, or the legislative branch, I immediately think of UConn Global and the internship that I did. I made so many friends and met so many people that I never would have gotten to know without doing that program.
