Minh Nguyen

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Major:
Bioengineering

Year:
Sophomore

Hometown:
Mount Vernon, IL

Other extracurricular activities:

  • Lambda Phi Epsilon
  • Hall Council
  • Engineering Open House (EOH) Member

Why Illinois?

Honestly I didn't choose Illinois, my dad did for me. He told me, "It's a good school that's in-state.", and that was it. I'm really glad I came here though, I'm excited to be given the opportunity to study as such a pristine and strong college that is not only full of academic adventures, but a great amount of diversity as well, especially for an Asian-American who grew up in predominantly white towns.

What has been your best experience at Illinois?

My best experience was joining Lambda Phi Epsilon. It's been a great place to find brotherhood, and comradery. It's so reassuring to see brothers my age who can relate to the same things that I can and share cultural similarities. Additionally the connections to other organizations including sororities and cultural organizations has helped me to develop strong relationships with people I never had met before.

Favorite part about being an engineering student?

My favorite part is that engineering here really has improved me as a student. In high school I wasn't the best student and had terrible habits academically. Engineering here, although difficult, is also very rewarding. Due to the rigor, I've been forced to reevaluate my study methods and develop new habits to successfully navigate through collegiate level work.

Why did you join EA?

I joined EA because I was craving an outlet for public speaking, service, and interacting with kids. I love public speaking just couldn't find the right extra curricular to satiate that itch, EA provided that for me. I wanted to make a difference in the community and inform others on topics I cared about. EA gave me that opportunity. I've always loved working with kids and pediatrics, finding out that EA presents regularly to high school and middle school students was the last push I needed to apply.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a STEM degree?

Develop good habits. Keep a good routine. Hold yourself and others accountable. Also failing is okay, every one fails at something, so it's important to realize that and work on improvement rather than perfection.

What do you plan on doing post-graduation?

I want to go to medical school, but we'll see what happens. :)