CAS Alumna Hannah Wu’s Diaries on Her Transformative Undergraduate Journey, Part 1

As graduation season draws to a close, I have found myself a moment to reflect upon my past as I look towards my future. With all the pomp and ceremony now behind me, I can say for certain that I have never felt more aware of the fact that I am currently undergoing a big life transition. An entire range of overlapping and contradictory emotions can be used to describe my feelings towards this change of pace: nostalgia, excitement, relief, anxiety, and overwhelmingness are a few that come to mind. More importantly, graduation has filled me with immense gratitude towards the people that have helped me reach where I am today—the sense of achievement I feel as a student is one that I am able to share with the community that I am surrounded by.

Looking back on the past four years, the Asian Institute has played an integral part in shaping the course of my undergraduate experience. I first came across the Contemporary Asian Studies Student Union (CASSU) rather serendipitously after a year of online classes. CAS courses had stuck out to me as I was researching PoST options. CASSU’s call for elections seemed like the perfect opportunity to get more involved in the social aspects of university that I was often daydreaming about while stuck in an online synchronous reality. I remember feeling really nervous about the election process, but in hindsight, first-year cluelessness emboldened me to “give it a shot”, and was one of the best decisions I ended up making during university!

Immediately, joining CASSU connected with upper-years that helped me transition into university life. I was fortunate to be on a small but incredible team of senior CAS students who graciously shared with me what university was like before the pandemic, and gave me something to look forward to once things returned “back to normal.” It was also a wonderful way to learn about CAS courses, its instructors and the program in general through their experiences. CAS events also became opportunities to challenge myself in new ways. I remember how nervous I felt as I stumbled over my words while hosting a panel at the Global Careers Conference, but with the support of my CAS peers, this experience has only made public speaking easier since.

And like every year of my undergrad, every year on CASSU has been different too. Seemingly out of nowhere, I found myself in the shoes of my seniors; it was now my turn to give advice on classes or try to persuade people to join CAS. The one thing that has remained constant, however, is the fact that CAS is a small program, which is a pleasant contrast given how big UofT can feel. Coupled with the socials that CAS and the Asian Institute put on, there are plenty of opportunities to become a familiar face whilst meeting students, professors and alumni who share a common interest in contemporary Asia.

To be a part of such a community is wonderful, especially one that extends beyond the four years of university. I encourage current CAS students to partake in the Asian Institute Mentorship program (AIM), which is a wonderful initiative that recognizes the importance of professional community-building. Take advantage of being a student as learning extends much more beyond what is taught in a classroom. Be proactive about your curiosity and ask for guidance from your peers and mentors. This emphasis on community is something I treasure about CAS. It seems that alumni share a common sense of appreciation for the AI expressed through their ongoing support towards current students.

A graduation is one of the many life transitions that an individual may go through. While change is something that is daunting as much as it is exciting, I have realized, thanks to CAS, how important it is to surround yourself with trusted people who make the process feel less lonely and even fun. To be able to celebrate rewards together is a feeling of fulfillment that I hope everyone can experience.

Photo by Yuxing Zhang — Shakespeare in the Garden in Singapore