Episode Notes | Episode Transcript | AskTheGuest
Ruby Hsu is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics.
Ruby took a very calm and exploratory approach towards college. Her college experience was shaped by a number of courses, campus opportunities and summer internships before she found her major - Community Development and Applied Economics.
Ruby shares her experience in great detail and directness. International students will find her insights and tips very valuable.
Hi-Fives from the Podcast are:
Episode Title: Ruby Hsu on UVM: Community Entrepreneurship, Different Cultures and Exploring to Find Answers.
Episode summary introduction: Ruby grew up in Taiwan and did her High School in a boarding school in Northfield, Massachusetts. One of her High School teachers of Chinese origin took her to a Chinese restaurant in Burlington, Vermont. The restaurant owners told her that she could walk to their restaurant if she joined the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Ruby Hsu is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics.
In particular, we discuss the following with her:
Topics discussed in this episode:
Our Guest: Ruby Hsu is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics.
Memorable Quote: “...they should get out of their comfort zone, because I do see a lot of students who go abroad to study and they still stay within their circle of friends.” Ruby Hsu to International Students.
Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.
Calls-to-action:
Transcript of the episode’s audio.
For international students, we have the Office of International Education and we we would have an advisor. So I would go to the adviser a lot, and she would kind of explain to me how things work. And then she would give me like, a brief explanation. And then I would go and actually explore myself. And I think being able to explore and look for your own answer is something that I learned at UVM.
Ruby Hsu is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics.
Ruby grew up in Taiwan.
While vacationing in New Zealand with her family in Middle School, she told her parents that she would like to do her high school study abroad.
She didn’t care where, but she did not want to continue studying in Taiwan.
Ruby landed in a boarding school in Northfield, Massachusetts.
During high school, one of her teachers of Chinese origin took them to a Chinese restaurant in Burlington, Vermont that her parents owned.
The restaurant owners told her that she could walk to this restaurant if she joined the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Ruby Hsu joins us today to tell us her University of Vermont story.
Before we jump into the podcast, here are the High-Fives, Five Highlights from the podcast:
[Transition to UVM]
it's very different from high school because it's not small like the the teacher to student ratio is different. You will have to be more active your if you have questions, you have to be the one going after the professor in college or your answer will your question will not be answered. So being more proactive is something that I have to I had to do and I had to try doing because I wasn't used to it.
[Classmates]
I did meet one classmate and I was very thankful that she, she and I became friends at the end because we were the ones sitting on the first row. She she was the type that always asked questions and never took no. Yeah. And I asked her why Why don't you take notes. She's like, Oh, because I spent all my time listening and asking questions.
[Campus Jobs]
So he said he actually had something for me to do is to help them going through all the survey results, and then compiling everything together. So it's more like an office job. So that's how I started working on campus. And that's how I ended up switching my major.
[US College Experience]
Yeah, so I, I never regret that I studied abroad. Even though I, I lost more than 10 years spending time with my family.
[Advice for Int’l Aspirants]
Get out of their comfort zone because I do see a lot of students who go abroad to study and they still stay within their group of friends.
Venkat Raman 3:57
Now, I'm sure you want to hear the entire podcast with Ruby. So without further delay, over to Ruby Hsu!
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Venkat Raman 4:06
We can start with what you think overall of your experience at UVM. Now that it's a few years behind you,
I remember the orientation that I attended. There was one student from Beijing, myself and the other students there were I believe they were all students from and or South Korea or some European countries. So we were placed in a dorm for two years. As soon as the classes started, I started making friends like local American friends, because English is not my first language so I actually met some classmates, they were very helpful and friendly, we would study together. And that kind of helped me be more adapted to college in the US. And from there, I think I started making more friends. And I think that was when I found UVM to be not so bad.
Venkat Raman 5:30
So, Ruby, what kind of things did you do in high school? What were your interests?
So I actually tried different sports, because that's one of the requirements for our high school. I actually did feel hockey, and softball, because I couldn't swim. And I couldn't join us when I told my mom about joining field hockey and softball, but she felt like it wasn't something that girls would do. That joining field hockey and softball actually helped me be more adapting to high school in the US, because I know Taiwan, we only play like volleyball, or maybe badminton or ping pong is not something that we actually see in Taiwan. So I was very happy that I actually joined field hockey, but also regret that I should have joined earlier because I actually ended up joining field hockey when I started senior year, and I play softball since sophomore year. No, that was, yeah, I wish if I actually was introduced to fieldd hockey, as a freshman, I probably would have made it to the varsity team. Yeah, that was what we did for sports. And then we also have, we also have to do something we call work job. All the students who join a school has to work four hours a week, okay, we started, school will choose the job for you. And usually, that's something that students don't like to do, for example, working in the kitchen, like doing this washing, or you know, cutting vegetables, or cleaning. And then we also have a farm. So we have a variety of jobs in the farm. We can work with the maple syrup or cleaning the bonds. Those are something that I did, I found that are very different from what I could get in Taiwan, and also have the community service options. Yeah, and actually done something really interesting. I organized the files in a local court. And that was something that I never imagined I would do, because we could sign up for different type of things that we could do. And that was something that was interested because I was I was interested in knowing what a court will look like, even though it's a local small court. But yeah, they they're just like a regular office that's filled with a lot of disorganized files in like in those rooms. So we had to actually look through and have helped them organize.
Venkat Raman 8:49
Very good. So Ruby, let's now talk about your transition from high school to college. How was the academic transition?
Um, so I would say the only similarity, the similarity of the academic from high school to college is math. I took AP Calculus. That was something that I also have to take in college. That was that was pretty similar. For the rest, for example, the class size, because for freshmen in college, usually the class size is much, much larger. Right? I had a lot of lecture style classes. That was includes at least 60 to 80 students. I took my major was business. So I had to take economics course. And for macro economics. I remember my class had about like 60 students before micro, it was more closer to 100. And it's very different from high school because it's not small like the the teacher to student ratio is different. You will have to be more active your if you have questions, you have to be the one going after the professor in college or your answer will, your question will not be answered. So be more proactive is something that I have to I had to do and I had to try doing because I wasn't used to it. It was for high school, it was more like the teacher would come to you and say, Oh, you haven't done really well on this. What happened? Do you need my help? But then for college, it's the other way around? Like you have to go to professor's and say that, Oh, I'm not really sure what this part is? Can you explain that to me again, or you have to make sure you know, the office hours of the professor. So you can go through the office hours. But sometimes the professor could be very popular. And he or she could have a lot of students waiting in line. So you have to always go maybe like 10 minutes before I actually started. I've tried to have a spot. So it's very different. I would say
Venkat Raman 11:32
What what did you think about your classmates? What were they like?
I would say they're all very different. I met students that are very hardworking. They always ask questions, and they always raise their hands, but never took no. I had classmates that took note. But they don't ask questions. And I'm not I'm not sure if they actually did well in class. But I did meet one classmate and I was very thankful that she, she and I became friends at the end because we were the ones sitting on the first row. She she was the type that always asked questions and never took no. Yeah. And I asked her why Why don't you take notes. She's like, Oh, because I spent all my time listening and asking questions. And then she's like, but I found that you have a really good handwriting. So I thought we could cooperate, and then study together. So that's how this classmate and I ended up being friends, because she, she never took notes. So when we read for exams, we would have to study together, like she would help me understand certain concepts. And then I would let her my notes. And then we will study together. So but we also have other type of students that just come to come to class late, and then like, fell asleep or something, I think we are, in one class of this lecture style. So no one really cares what you do. You will have to be your own boss, you will have to be the one that actually push yourself to study and push yourself to do better. And I would say most of my classmates are still very nice and friendly and helpful, even because I know some of them. They don't know when you ask them questions they don't know, but they would do their best to help you find out. Sure. I think that's something that I found very welcoming in the UVM community.
Venkat Raman 14:08
What did you think of the professors?
The professors, I have different types of professors, some of them they they seem pretty easygoing. And they so they would get their lectures. Yeah, they would answer your question. But for me, I feel like I can't really be what should I use... Like, We're still like, there's still a distance between the professor and myself. Yeah, but I did meet a professor. She is also from Taiwan. And the was the type that was spent all her afternoon just trying to get you to understand something and she was to actually help you to kind of explore if this major is something you should continue or not. She might say things that sounds harsh, but actually useful. So I would say I had a variety of professors, they all have different styles. Yeah, they are all very helpful.
Venkat Raman 15:34
So let's talk a little bit about outside the classroom about your campus life. What did you think about the dorms and the food and living and all that? How did, how did, How was that at UVM?
UVM is huge. You have to take buses to get to different campuses. I think I mentioned that as a freshman and sophomore, we have to live on the door, like in a dorm on campus. Yeah, we couldn't really choose where which dorm we live, but from the second year, like we can choose, they have a traditional dormitories. And they also have the theme housing. So they have different program like Japanese programs, like a group of students that are interested in this language, and can apply for the same house. I also try to apply for the same house. But I didn't end up getting and later I found out because I failed something wrong on the application. So that's what got me not getting into this theme dorm. But I met a lot of friends. They live in different houses. I had friends who live in Japanese house or Chinese House. And then there are also a lot of different things. No Boundaries. Well, I think it's called no boundary. And yeah, there are a lot of them. I can't remember all of them. But because I have a lot of friends for the Chinese House and Japanese house and I sometimes I would go to their events because for different thing house they would host different activities or events. For Japanese, sometimes there's like sushi making, or they would have different animes showing things like that. And as well as for Chinese House, they have different festivals, celebrations. So if I knew about this earlier, before I even started UVM. I would dig into this and apply for us when I was able to because I feel like being in a theme housing. Well get you be more connected with the people that have shared the same interest. As you. Sure. Okay, foods, oh, we have a lot of options. We have traditional cafeterias, we have a restaurant style. And we also have grab to go that kind of options. And I will say my favorite is the pubs in the Student Center serves different kind of meals and they are also the ingredients are from the local farm. A lot of them are like for meats, they have like grass fed beef or something, I think a great option because that helps the farmers and then also healthy for us. So yeah, well that was one of my favorite place in the student center.
Venkat Raman 19:18
What kind of things did you do? What kind of activities were you involved in?
I joined several student unions, so they're called Asian American Student Union. Union and then there is also Alana house. And the reason why I joined those was because I have friends for who were already in the clubs. And then after we became friends and then they introduced me to this and I want to talk about Lana house a little more. So, at first I wasn't sure what Alana house did. But when I, when I started going to their events, Yeah, I feel like it's just a place for me to get to know myself and then also heal myself because when I came here I'm not saying that Oh, I wasn't I was, like in danger or anything but sometimes studying can be intense. Yeah. And that you, you always want to do better and then so that you can get an A at the end of the semester. Right, you forgot about what you need as a human. Right. So a lot going to Alana house, being with the people, they're just talking to them makes me feel leave. And like, oh, I still have to do things to make myself happy to make myself kind of know what I'm doing why I'm here. So for Alana house, because they have the Peer Mentor Program. And that's how I got more involved. And that actually kind of shaped who I am right now. Because even what, because I currently work in an education field. I work with schools, I work with teachers. I don't work with students as much, but I work with teachers a lot. And when I do have to meet with several students to get to know more about how I can help them. Talking to the students reminds me of what I received from Alana house, and how I feel like, I want to do the same for the students, even though I don't know them pretty well. But I'm here for them. Just like when I was at UVM, the people at Alana house, were there for me. So I think that kind of also helped me decide that I want to stay in education field as a career.
Venkat Raman 22:34
Did you do a particular campus jobs or other kinds of initiatives or projects
I started doing on campus jobs is second semester, on my first year. So if I can't really remember the name, but it's a calling positions, so as to call to do a survey. And then when I met the person, Michael, who was in charge, I told him that I actually don't like speaking on the phone. Right? And he said, May I ask why you still apply for this position? If you don't like talking? I said, because I want to explore what's on campus. Yeah, I feel like maybe talking on the phone, or maybe you will have something different for me to do after you meet with me. So he said he actually had something for me to do is to help them going through all the surveys results, and then compiling everything together. So it's more like an office job. So that's how I started working on campus and that's how I ended up switching my major from business school to what we call CDAE, it's Community Development and Applied Economics. So it's different from the regular business school and that's how I met the professor, my advisor that time and from that job, he actually introduced me to different positions because I also worked as a promotion, a promotion coordinator for Sodexo. And then I also had a variety of internships. I did a sourcing intern as the like design. And then I also did a, like a marketing position or internship at Newbury marketing. They're all local companies in Vermont, and they did marketing with summer UI at UVM. So I feel like one, because of that first, on campus job he got, he kind of helped me to explore a lot more options. And then from the major that I switched to, they also have a very, very well established internship programs for students to go and then to explore what actually suits them. So I have done many, many different internships during the semester, and also during the summer. And I remember one summer I didn't go home. So I did one on campus job. Three internships during two summers, even though the internships were unpaid, but I feel like I've well spent my summer and I think that was much I was better than making money, but not getting anything for myself.
Venkat Raman 26:24
So maybe a good, good thing to talk about right now are the different summers that in college. So you did a so yeah. Tell us about a few describe a few of the summers.
I took a one credit Japanese course. I remember it, I believe is the first, first or second semester, I think it's the first summer at UVM. I took because I took Japanese class. And then there was a one credit Japanese course. It's a cultural trip. So we traveled to Japan for two weeks. We spend two weeks in different cities in Japan, we have different projects, we have to do journals. And we also have to meet with the teachers family. And we had a lot of different opportunities speaking Japanese. And that was a little interesting, because I travel with all while I was the only Asian students in the group. So the rank of our American students. Yeah, oh, when I went when I arrived, they all assume that I am also from Japan, and Japanese. So all come to me to speak to me in Japanese, and then hope that I would be able to translate for them. But the funny thing is that I was actually the one with the least Japanese skills, like I only took one semester of Japanese. And then the rest of my classmates, they were all already like taking it for two years or three years. So I found that a little uncomfortable, but also a little funny. And then, so that was one summer. And then the other summer is the one that I mentioned earlier that I took different internships in one summer, so I had an on campus job in the student center. But it wasn't every day, it was only probably like three days a week and couple hours each time. And then that time because for my major community entrepreneurship, we have to do, I think three or six credits of internships. And I felt like oh, maybe that was the time for me to try different internships. So I did a marketing intern and that was a paid intern in Colchester. What we did was, they have different post POS system. Yeah. They work with local restaurants or coffee shop, your local stores. My job is to help them to kind of start their Facebook page and Twitter as well as learning how to fix or setup POS system for different food services because they they said for just food services. They have one kind of POS And then for the bars or cafe, they have different ones. So that summer I learned about that. And then I also did another internship helping a company they did. How would I call this? So this company, they develop the design Toy Yeah, For before they start school, I would say probably like four kids from age one to like three.
Venkat Raman 30:33
Yeah, pre kindergarten, pre pre kindergarten kids.
Ruby 30:36
Yeah. And What they told me to do is because their manufacturer is in China, and then they found this website in China that was copying their deal in Italy. So they told me to go on the website to point out and translate everything to Chinese, to English. And then they want me to contact the company in China and ask them to stop and, like, close their website or something. Well, one, and then there was another one. I can't remember. But I remember I was running around on campus, off campus, all in Burlington, Colchester in between, like, different positions. And, yeah, that's how I spent two, almost three months of summer in Vermont, without going anywhere. And I think that summer was very valuable for my personal experience, and for my career in the future.
Venkat Raman 31:57
Whether you mentioned a little earlier about why or how you ended up picking your major in computer community, entrepreneurship. And, you know, you switched, I think you said, from business to community entrepreneurship. So tell us now that, you know, you've graduated from UVM. I know you went back to do a master's program, but how has UVM shaped your career so far?
Um, I? Well, that's a big question. I would say in different aspects, a lot of you know, of course, the classes that I took, the professors that I met, and also something that I learned in being a student at UVM. Let me explain this a little bit. Yeah. So because I think I mentioned when I started at UVM, there wasn't a lot of international students. And of course, there were teachers or advisors to help. But I feel like the help that would I would get was not very enough. So I think that the well, it's the attitude and the approach, because I am the type of person that if I want to know something, I would just go ahead and do my best and look for the answers. And when I started UVM, I couldn't I needed a lot, a lot of guidance and help, but I could only get a minimum. So I would try and talk to different people. And because for international students, we have the the Office of International Education, and we we would have an advisor. So I would go to the advisor a lot, and she would kind of explain to me how things work. And then she would give me like, a brief explanation. And then I would go and actually explore myself. And I think being able to explore and look for your own answer. It's something that I learned at UVM even though this is not taught in class, but that's that's also a strategy or a method to get around and be successful at UVM as a student, so I think that's how I ended up using what I do right now is because I took classes. And then I also did a TESOL program for the TESOL program is teaching English for other languages. And then that's when I found that I actually want to be in education field. So that's why I went back to get a master's in education. And I think with all those, and then people, students classes, internships, part time positions on campus, off campus, oh, those shaped my career and guide me to where I am right now.
Venkat Raman 35:51
Now, let me ask you a related question. Now, you said you went to New Zealand when you were in middle school, and after that, you told your parents you want to study abroad, you don't care where? And then you came to Massachusetts? And then of course, later on to UVM. Now, bu, how do you how do you feel about studying abroad? How do you feel a deal? Now many years later? Do you feel as strongly and as positive about it? Do you feel like it has enriched you?
I feel the the years that I study abroad, yeah. actually gave me a different perspective on things in different aspects, like for my job, or my family, or my friends, or things that happen in the world? Because I currently work in China. Yeah. I work with a group of Chinese people hear that. That's very different from when I study in the US. And I think, being in the US, because I've met with students from different cultures, different backgrounds, that will prepare me to be able to work in different places. I didn't choose to go home back to Taiwan to work, because I, well, I love challenges, so I don't want to go back to the comfort zone. So I choose to be somewhere else away from home. And I feel like I'm able to work in different countries different cultures, because I was prepared for this point. Yeah. So I I never regret that I study abroad even though I, I lost more than 10 years spending time with my family. But I feel like that was an important part of my life. And definitely, that was one of the best thing that happened. And I was very grateful to to be able to study abroad.
Venkat Raman 38:38
You went to UVM as an undergrad and many years ago now, not that many years ago, but a few years ago. Now if you were to go back what would you do differently with those four years what would you now that you know what you know? What would you do differently?
I, I would say that I would spend more time studying for all the tests or exams okay. For classes, I would do my best. Try to raise my hands during classes more because for lecture style classes, it's very difficult for me to you know, raise my hand and ask questions in front of different people. Just because English is not my first language so I always have that barrier in, inside myself.
And I will probably continue doing feel hockey in college. Yeah. Because I, when I started college, I told myself that I, I just want to have fun. So I don't want to do. Because I feel like fourth, well would take up a lot of my time. So yeah, so I think, definitely, if I could change, I want to spend more time on my classes, as well as continue with all the other things that happen outside of classes.
Venkat Raman 40:54
What, What kind of advice would you have all the people that you are teaching right now aspiring students getting ready to go to college, getting ready to study abroad or study in the US?
Um, well, first, I would tell them, they should get out of their comfort zone, because I do see a lot of students who go abroad to study and they still stay within their group of friends. Being more open and exploring a different culture, well do good for them. Also, something that I really have to emphasize is networking, networking, as the most important thing that we all need to have. And because of networking, I was able to find my current job. Because of working, I was being able to connect with students or people, or alumni from different countries when I go there. I think networking is something that we all need to have. And we all need to be familiar with. Because that's really helpful. And, of course, English, like the language itself is very important. They shouldn't be shy about speaking, they should be brave, and not feel like oh, the people will laugh at them if they say something wrong, because whatever they say people will understand. Right? Yeah, and just try to join different clubs, different groups, try things that they've never seen in, in their countries. Speak to people that are from different cultures, I think they will learn a lot. And they will be surprised how much they don't know, before they meet those people.
Venkat Raman 43:29
So Ruby, we are sort of winding down our podcast here. Now before we sign off. I'd like you to, you know, take a moment and maybe share some memories from UVM or some traditions or any thoughts or anything else that you feel we haven't touched on in this conversation.
Well, yeah, something that I think it's one of the best and I haven't mentioned is because as soon as I moved out of the dorms, I started renting apartments and had really, and I will say, that was the most memorable experience of your life. Because there were good things and bad things. And that's how that's something that I think it's also important, because I got to meet with different people. And then I've got to live with different people and knowing that we all have our differences. Yeah, when we get together. We all have to work with each other. Because, you know, we do have people who who just wake up at six, go to bed at six or seven like really early. But we do have People wake up at noon and then go to bed at six in the morning. Um having roommates is the most memorable memory in for my UVM life because the roommate that I had for my senior year, they ended up becoming my best friend from college. And we're now in different places. But we still connect. And I just went to, while two years ago, before the pandemic, I actually went to attend one of their wedding. Yeah, and that's when we were able to all connect, reconnect together again, because we live in different countries. So it was it's difficult, we still staying in contact online, but it just wasn't as easy as the path where we all live together.
Venkat Raman 46:08
Fair enough. So, so Ruby, first of all, let me thank you for taking the time and sharing all your experiences and putting up with some of the technical difficulties along the way here. But I think this is being extremely, extremely detailed and interesting and inspiring, and I hope all the aspiring international students get something out of it. So thank you again, and I'm sure we will be in touch. But for now. Take care and be safe. Thank you, and stay safe in Shanghai there.
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Hi again!
Hope you enjoyed our podcast with Ruby Hsu about the University of Vermont.
Ruby took a very calm and exploratory approach towards college.
Her college experience was shaped by a number of courses, campus opportunities and summer internships before she found her major - Community Development and Applied Economics.
Ruby shares her experience in great detail and directness. International students will find her insights and tips very valuable.
I hope Ruby’s story inspires you to look at the University of Vermont closely.
For your questions or comments on this podcast, please email podcast at almamatters.io [podcast@almamatters.io].
Thank you all so much for listening to our podcast today.
Transcripts for this podcast and previous podcasts are on almamatters.io forward slash podcasts [almamatters.io/podcasts].
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Till we meet again, take care and be safe.
Thank you!