A Global Attitude
As a Chinese and Japanese Studies major, Brianna Bennet ’17 understands the importance of building community wherever she finds herself. Whether in classes at Valpo or studying abroad, Brianna has embraced every opportunity that’s come her way with excitement and an open mind.
The list of organizations Brianna is a part of is a long one. Brianna is a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma, a Residential Assistant in Brandt Hall, a student aid in the Study Abroad office, and the former president of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Coalition. While her long list of activities keep her busy, at the heart of Brianna’s involvement is her passion for community and connectedness.
Brianna’s passion for Asian culture began at a young age with her love of Korean pop music, known as K-Pop. When she came to Valpo as a freshman, Brianna was unsure which organizations to get involved in, and her love for K-Pop drew her into the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPIC). Through AAPIC, Brianna has been able not only to continue to learn more about a variety of Eastern Asian cultures, but also to meet new people and build a community of people whose interests were similar to her own.
Her involvement in AAPIC, however, has not been Brianna’s only encounter with East Asian culture. During the fall semester of her junior year, Brianna fulfilled her dream of studying abroad in East Asia. She says that her time at the VU Study Center in Hangzhou, China was a formative experience that both enhanced and confirmed her passion for Chinese and Japanese Studies.
“My time in China upset my routine in a meaningful way,” Brianna says of her experience with a mild case of culture shock. “They had a completely different way of doing things, and as a result, I gained a new kind of open-mindedness and a certain awareness of other cultures.”
According to Yun Xia, Ph.D., who has known Brianna since her freshman year at Valpo, Brianna’s awareness of other cultures was evident even before studying abroad. “Brianna stands out as a student not just for her impressive academic records. She has a genuine curiosity about the past and current lives of people from other cultures.” Dr. Xia cites Brianna’s interest and empathy as her most impressive traits, especially because they never stand in the way of her critical analyses of different cultures. Dr. Xia says that Brianna’s empathy “enabled her to gain a true understanding of East Asia, which is the focus of her study.”
Dr. Xia accompanied Brianna and her classmates on their trip to Hangzhou, where Dr. Xia says Brianna stood out as a positive force in the community. “Brianna adapts to different environments quickly and comfortably,” Dr. Xia says, “which encourages and calms down her peers. Her insight and cheerfulness really lightened up the mood of the whole group.”
After returning to Valpo, Brianna found herself longing to be a part of something bigger. The year before, she had heard about Sigma Lambda Gamma, a social sorority dedicated to empowering women and promoting diversity and cultural awareness both on campus and around the world. Drawn to the values at the heart of the sorority, Brianna decided to join Valparaiso’s Delta Zeta Chapter in the spring of 2015. She says that joining Sigma Lambda Gamma has only enhanced her sense of community at Valpo, and that her sisters’ commitment to bettering themselves and the world around them inspires her daily.
When she’s not spending time with her sisters or with the members of AAPIC, Brianna keeps busy with two campus jobs. She works in the Study Abroad office, helping other students achieve their dreams of studying abroad by assisting them through the application process and providing insight on what it’s like to study abroad. Brianna also works as a Residential Assistant in Brandt Hall, which she says has been a life changing experience.
“As a senior, I was nervous about all my residents being freshman,” Brianna says, “but these women have a youthfulness and creativity that has taught me so much about what it means to be flexible and open-minded.” Brianna says that her time as an RA has been a lot of hard work that has ultimately paid off in the form of personal growth and meaningful relationships with her residents. “Some of my residents have asked me about becoming RA’s in the future,” Brianna says, “That tells me that I’m doing something right.”
When she looks back on her time at Valpo, Brianna sees how every organization she’s involved in has contributed to her growth as a person. If she could give her freshman self one piece of advice, it would be to be patient and to be herself. Brianna says that her Valpo experience has been one of profound acceptance and inclusivity, something she hopes to foster for other people in the future. Her goal is to create spaces where there is room for everyone, and everyone feels like they belong.
After graduation, Brianna plans to return to East Asia to continue learning about the variety of cultures there. In the future, she hopes to either become a US diplomat in an East Asian country or a promoter for K-Pop stars coming into the United States. No matter where life takes her, Brianna feels strongly that her job is to facilitate respectful and positive interactions between cultures. She says that her courses in Chinese and Japanese studies have taught her a variety of values and lessons that can be applied to almost any situation. She hopes to continue that learning and growing in the future, wherever she ends up.
“I’m a strong believer in going with your gut,” Brianna says. “Pursue the opportunities that are true to who you are.” Through pursuing her passions, Brianna has not only learned more about herself, but she’s become the person she’s always hoped to be.