Twice a month, the Wheel will feature and interview a notable or interesting University alum about their time at Emory, its impact on their post-graduation life and advice for current students. If you would like to suggest a University alum for a feature, please contact Asst. News Editor Stephen Fowler at smfowle@emory.edu.
Caleb Peng graduated from Emory in 2013 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. He is currently the Complex Director for the Woodruff residence hall and a 2016 MPH Candidate in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education.
Wheel: What were you involved with around campus when at Emory?
Peng: I was mostly involved in programs from the Office of Multicultural Programs & Services (OMPS), such as Crossroads, Unity Month and MORE (Multicultural Outreach and Resources at Emory). I also started a monthly event for one semester called RoboFrog, but that's a story for another day. I was involved in LeaderShape and Executive Round Table from the Office of Student Leadership and Service (OSLS). And I created Project Unspoken, a video series through the Respect Program from the Office of Health Promotion.
Wheel: What is it like working at Emory post-graduation?
Peng: I worked for a year as a residence hall director fellow for Campus Life after graduating from Emory. It was a tremendous learning experience working as a staff member for Emory after being a student for four years. Approaching my day-to-day job was much different than being a day-to-day student. As a student, you are often the focus of the University, and the staff/faculty are there to support your growth and development. As a student, academics are always going to be a top priority. As a staff member, my top priority was to be a supporter and mentor for students. My job provided me with a unique opportunity to give back what I received from the community during my undergraduate years.
Working as a staff member right after graduating Emory University also helped me relate to a lot of the students' experiences. I was able to recount how I felt as student in similar situations that my residents went through.
Lastly, it was nice to take a break from school. I had been in school from pre-school all the way through college without any breaks lasting longer than a summer vacation. It was refreshing to not have to worry about tests and projects, but to have to worry about other challenges such as being a professional, filing my own taxes and cooking dinner every evening.
Wheel: What advice do you have for current Emory students?
Peng: Be open minded, patient and ready to learn. There is much that I didn't know as a stubborn college student even though I thought I had the world figured out. There is a lot that you can learn outside the Emory community, but there is also a lot that you can learn within the Emory community. I am currently a graduate student at the Rollins School of Public Health and I also work as a Complex Director for a residence hall. By the time I graduate from Emory (the second time), I will have been at Emory for seven years straight. But I have been constantly learning from this institution since my first day here, so always be willing to learn and relearn.
Wheel: What is one thing you wish you knew as an Emory student that you can pass down?
Peng: You can always compare yourself to other students and admire/envy their successes. Success is not necessarily a grade, a title, an award or an invitation letter from a secret society. Success is subjective. And you may not succeed in everything you do at Emory, but do the best you can because there are much more opportunities for success in your life after Emory.
-- By Stephen Fowler, Asst. News Editor
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