Get to Know Emily Lin
Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend UM because of the Chinese Language Flagship Program, a unique and prestigious Chinese language program that is only offered at 12 schools in the country. I also wanted to attend a university where I would have the perfect work-life balance, so overall, UM was the perfect fit for me!
When and how did you choose your major(s)/minor(s)?
I chose my areas of study in high school. I wanted to major in Chinese because I wanted to better understand my family’s cultural background and strengthen my relationship with my family. (Additionally, I am interested in the sciences and am on the pre-dental track, so I chose chemistry as my other major and biology as my minor.)
What would you tell a high school student about your major?
One of the best things about being a language major is being able to explore various subjects! As you are building your vocabulary, you are exposed to many different topics, and you become a more knowledgeable person overall!
Why is your department a special place?
I love that my department is a close-knit community. Professors genuinely care for you and want to get to know you as a person. For example, many foreign language classes host weekly language tables where students can casually have lunch with professors and practice conversational skills together.
Can you tell me about a professor or a class you’ve taken that has had the most impact on you?
I’d say that all of the professors that I’ve had are equally good! They truly want to see you succeed and they are willing to take time out of their day to listen and help out!
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
I plan to be a dentist! I also would like to travel to China again, and hopefully this time, I would be able to express myself better when chatting with family and friends.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you’d tell your past self?
Talk to people! Whether it is befriending a random classmate or joining an organization, make connections because not only can y’all be resources to each other, you also never know who you are going to meet. Let’s just say that in my case, a stranger whom I befriended in my physics class turned out to be my neighbor in China… what are the chances of that happening?!
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