Alpha Kappa Psi"WHY ALPHA KAPPA PSI" TESTIMONIAL SERIES:
To give you a better understanding of how our member's involvement in Alpha Kappa Psi have shaped their professional goals as well as their overall college experience, we've included informative testimonials of various members of our active body.
Nick Lin
Class: Senior
Major: Communication, Business Minor, Chinese Studies Minor
College: John Muir
Hometown: Arcadia, CA
Pledge Class: Alpha Tau
Positions held: President, Vice President of Operations, Parliamentarian, Regional Delegate
My Potential | Why Alpha Kappa Psi?
Coming into UCSD, I knew academics were not going to be my primary source of motivation. While I always allocated time and effort towards my studies, I knew that I never wanted to define my college career based upon a GPA or a transcript. With this mentality, I sought out different student organizations in the hopes that they could fulfill three conditions that I had in mind: 1) constantly provide challenges that would channel my strengths, highlight my weaknesses, and push me down a continuous path of growth and development, 2) capitalize upon current and future opportunities, and finally 3) allow me to have fun and make the most of my college experience so that I may one day look back and say "college was the best four years of my life." Alpha Kappa Psi, with their pillars of Professionalism and Brotherhood, truly exemplified what I looked for in regards to my continuous passion to learn and grow as an aspiring professional and determination to enjoy my years as a college student.
My Passion | How has Alpha Kappa Psi helped you?
Upon my first year at UCSD, I struggled to find myself. I sampled with different majors, different campus organizations, and different activities in the hopes of finding my niche. Upon pledging and crossing into Alpha Kappa Psi, I can honestly say I've finally found where I belong. Alpha Kappa Psi has enriched my college years with meaningful experiences and lifelong relationships. I learned both professional and personal lessons that I would not have elsewhere. For that, I will always be grateful towards the fraternity.
However, it's important to note that Alpha Kappa Psi never handed me an internship, nor did they provide me a step-by-step outline as to how to go about becoming a better leader or professional. Within Alpha Kappa Psi, "you get out what you put in." My personal growth within this fraternity is based off the positions I took up, the challenges I faced, the relationships that I've built, and the lessons that I've learned along the way that would not have come up, had I not taken it upon myself to make something of my experience within this fraternity. Therefore, with everything we do in life, it's important to really put forth our best efforts. Only then, can we maximize our output and truly become stronger individuals
Life At a Glance | Biography
Nick graduated from Arcadia High School back in 2008, where he was involved with ASB, Orchestra, and the city Red Cross. He is currently a 4th year Muir student majoring in Communication with minors in Business and Chinese Studies. Nick would love to take my academic studies and work experience to pursue the field of Business Development on the global-expansion platform, with an emphasis on Project Management. Some key industries Nick is hoping to focus upon are Hospitality and IT. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the beach, cooking, exploring different eateries and restaurants, and reading.
Rachel Palad
Class: Senior
Major: Economics, Political Science minor, and Financial Analysis Certificate
College: John Muir
Hometown: South San Francisco, CA
Pledge Class: Alpha Rho
Positions held: VP Membership, Corporate Relations Committee Chair, Regional Delegate, Historian
My Potential | Why Alpha Kappa Psi?
At the end of my freshman year, I felt very unfulfilled and I was searching for an opportunity to leverage my Economics curriculum with tangible, meaningful business experience that would help provide me with a sense of direction for my career. I was completely clueless to the world of business and I wanted to learn about its different industries. At the same time, I was searching for a group of like-minded people to grow with and to enhance my college experience. I explored other business organizations on campus, but they lacked in either Professionalism or Brotherhood. In Spring 2009, I attended Alpha Kappa Psi's Rush Week and I was blown away by both aspects. The members were both very knowledgeable in their respective industries and they were incredibly open to honing potential talent as long as you had the internal motivation to learn. Initially, I was skeptical because I didn't believe an organization could truly balance Professionalism and Brotherhood. However, it couldn't have been a better fit. Through this fraternity, I gained lifelong friends and a network of successful business professionals.
My Passion | How has Alpha Kappa Psi helped you?
After three years in the fraternity, I can truly say that Alpha Kappa Psi has been the most influential experience of my college career. Aside from teaching me how to write the perfect resume or doing well in a interview, Alpha Kappa Psi taught me to be a fighter for the sake of pursuing my passion and acquiring my dream career. In business, it's incredibly important to stand out and your work ethic needs to have that "above and beyond" factor. Through the leadership positions I've held, I've faced unique challenges that demanded an incredible amount of drive, initiative, and fearlessness in order to succeed. These are the unique challenges that academia or any other business organization would not be able to teach you and these challenges would impress any employer.
Life At a Glance | Biography
Rachel Grace is from South San Francisco, CA. She is 4th year from John Muir College majoring in Economics, minoring in Political Science, and pursuing a Financial Analysis Certificate. She crossed into Alpha Kappa Psi with the Alpha Rho pledge class where she served as Historian, Regional Delegate, Corporate Relations Committee Chair, and Vice President of Membership. Her internship experience includes Bainbridge, a strategy consulting firm, and Rising Venus, an incubator for rising entrepreneurs, where she worked on business cases for emerging technology, food, fashion, and spa services. After graduation, Rachel Grace plans to enter a career in consulting and attend business school to earn her MBA. One day, she hopes to become a worldwide traveler. Her favorite color is purple.
Helena Xu
Class: Alumnus '10
Major: Management Science and Communications
College: John Muir
Hometown: Hacienda Heights, California
Pledge Class: Alpha Nu
Positions held: President, VP Business Development, Public Relations and Marketing Committee Chair
My Potential | Why Alpha Kappa Psi?
As I reflect back on my first year of college, I remember telling myself that I would never join a fraternity. I was convinced that I wouldn’t fit in and that there really wouldn't be any benefits. Though I never planned on joining a fraternity, I did however enter college with expectations of furthering my business aspirations. As my freshman year was nearing its end, I still hadn’t felt as though I was utilizing all the opportunities that college offered, nor had I felt as if I reached my full potential. To me, your college experience is a book. And my book had lacked a lot of material. I knew that by making a pivotal decision in joining Alpha Kappa Psi, I would enable myself to be challenged in rigors I’ve never been exposed to in the classroom. Many of my peers had said that they would wait until later to join a fraternity, but I figured, what better place than here, what better time than now.
My Passion | How has Alpha Kappa Psi helped you?
It’s difficult to put into words what an effect Alpha Kappa Psi has had on my life. While I did gain professionalism and insight into the business realm, I had always known which direction I was heading in my career path. I was already familiar with the necessary means of succeeding in a professional atmosphere prior to joining Alpha Kappa Psi. What I did gain was substantial improvement in my leadership, networking, and social skills. Although these skills have had extremely positive influences in my life, what I cherish most is that Alpha Kappa Psi has pushed me beyond measurable or quantitative personal growth. As a newly initiated brother, never have I been so pushed to my limits and never have I been so invested in my work and my brothers.
Joining Alpha Kappa Psi has truly built and enriched my life. Prior to this experience, the prospect of failure or being pushed out of my comfort zone frightened me. Now, I only look forward to the next challenge that awaits me. I consider that something which I could not have been fortunate enough to experience anywhere else. The experiences I’ve gained and the brothers I’ve made in Alpha Kappa Psi will forever be a large chapter in my book. Although I couldn’t imagine myself in a fraternity when I entered college, I now cannot imagine my life having not been a part of Alpha Kappa Psi.
Life At a Glance | Biography
Helena is from Hacienda Heights, California and a student in John Muir College. She plans on attending business school after college and hopes to pursue a career in Marketing. Prior to joining Alpha Kappa Psi, Helena has been involved in Marketing for Daimler-Chrysler and has done Public Relations with BP-America. She enjoys dancing, painting, and frozen yogurt.
Candice Wang
Class: Alumnus '09
Major: International Studies
College: Thurgood Marshall
Hometown: Arcadia, California
Pledge Class: Alpha Lambda
Positions held: Director of Consulting, President, VP Administration, Historian
My Potential | Why Alpha Kappa Psi?
I learned about Alpha Kappa Psi during winter quarter of my first-year at Pre-Rush Info Night. The first few months of college had passed by quickly, yet I was still searching to get involved in an organization that can fully enhance my college experience. Initially, I was hesitant to rush for a fraternity but the diverse and ambitious members of Alpha Kappa Psi who I met during rush week exuded professionalism, maturity, and motivation. After learning about the opportunities Alpha Kappa Psi has offered its members, I not only gained admiration and respect for its members, I was convinced that Alpha Kappa Psi is a place for me to grow and shape my professional development.
My Passion | How has Alpha Kappa Psi helped you?
Since crossing into Alpha Kappa Psi, I’ve experienced relentless personal growth. AKPsi provided countless opportunities for me to become a stronger leader. It helped me shape my career aspirations and instilled the necessary skills for me to achieve those aspirations. It has also opened my eyes to different opportunities and experiences; I constantly gain knowledge about the real world that no academic course could provide.
The rewards of my experiences have far surpassed my expectations. I expected to hone my professional skills but I discovered much more about brotherhood. At the heart of AKPsi is a brotherhood of lifelong friends who genuinely care about each other’s success and are always willing to lend a helping hand. It is with the encouragement and advice of a brother that I secured my upcoming corporate summer internship.
Life At a Glance | Biography
Candice is from Arcadia, California. Since pledging Alpha Kappa Psi in spring 2006 as part of the Alpha Lambda pledge class, Candice has experienced the breadth of leadership opportunities the fraternity has to offer to its fullest as the current Chapter President. At Alpha Kappa Psi, Candice was instrumental in moving the fraternity beyond its campus roots to becoming a leading player in the broader professional realm. Before becoming president, Candice has fulfilled the roles of Chapter Historian and Vice President of Administration, driving the fraternity's professional growth as well as its internal structure.
Candice is currently working at Wachovia Securities, bringing a diversified range of strategic and portfolio management skills. Prior to joining Wachovia, Candice has served as a marketing intern at both East West Bank and Toyota Motor Sales, where she was responsible for implementing product marketing plans and increasing sales.
During her free time, Candice enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and volunteering. A participant of United Way’s Alternative Spring Break program in Southwest Louisiana, Candice made her commitment to philanthropy a reality by building houses for low-income families. She recently participated in the EAP Shanghai program during fall 2008, studying International Business at Fudan University.
James Chang
Class: Alumnus '08
Major: Psychology
College: Sixth
Hometown: San Marino, California
Pledge Class: Alpha Mu
Positions held: VP Finance, Treasurer, Professional Development Committee Chair
My Potential | Why Alpha Kappa Psi?
I was first interested in Alpha Kappa Psi during the summer going into my 3rd year at UCSD. I had decided over the summer that I was going to pursue a job in finance. I had always heard the phrase that, “in business, it’s not always about who you are, but who you know.” I found out that Alpha Kappa Psi is the oldest and largest professional business fraternity in the world, and decided that I had to become a part of this organization for the betterment of my future career endeavors.
My Passion | How has Alpha Kappa Psi helped you?
Alpha Kappa Psi has met my expectations and exceeded them on many different levels. I was really able to create my own network and find the coveted alumni that I had been seeking. Through Alpha Kappa Psi, I was able to have many finance doors open up. Many of our current actives have jobs at Morgan Stanley, and this connection was formed through the Alpha Kappa Psi bond. While I have been an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi, I have developed countless professional skills ranging from writing the “perfect” resume to having “outstanding” interview skills. However, what I have found in Alpha Kappa Psi transcends all of those professional skills. Alpha Kappa Psi offers brotherhood. Brotherhood is a bond that transcends friendship. My pledge brothers and active brothers, we all share a bond that is unbreakable and undeniable. While I may have joined for the professional aspects, I have stayed for the brotherhood.
Life At a Glance | Biography
Hailing from San Marino, CA, James crossed into Alpha Kappa Psi as part of the Alpha Mu pledge class. He was Pledge Class President, Professional Development Committee Chair, Treasurer, and is currently the Vice President of Finance for the fraternity. Since joining Alpha Kappa Psi, James has worked at Microsoft as a Microsoft Student Partner – Marketing Representative, and will be working this summer at Citinet Financial Group in the Wealth Management division.