Emily Hong
Economics & German Studies
Eden Prairie, Minn. and Shanghai, China
What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?
My education in the College of Arts & Sciences has pushed me to pursue curiosity without constraint. Without rigid academic blueprints or pre-charted paths, I have had a lot of freedom to develop my own academic journey — a process which has taught me independence and the ability to connect disciplines. The student experience in Arts & Sciences is very self-driven, which has encouraged me to reflect on my interests when designing my course schedule to align with my goals. This type of interdisciplinary education has forced me to become agile; last semester, I spent my school day jumping from a class on economic regressions to German literature, and then American cinema. Most beautifully, Arts & Sciences has encouraged me to find my own connections between fields. German philosophy impacted the way I viewed economics, and navigating a foreign language provided me with confidence to speak up in other unfamiliar settings. I could not have wished for a more holistic and intellectually stimulating college academic experience.
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
The first club I joined at Cornell University was the Cornell Undergraduate Asia Business Society (CUABS), and it was my first community on campus. As someone who has moved repeatedly throughout my adolescence, I was always looking to find a place to call home — and for me, CUABS became that. While my family was back in Shanghai, I met upperclassmen who took me under their wing. Very early in my academic career, I was able to find strong role models who inspired me to take on new challenges at Cornell after seeing their personal and professional accomplishments. Their presence dismantled quiet limitations I had placed on myself. Now as a senior, I am confident CUABS will always be a constant in my life — a community beyond graduation and a home at Cornell that I can always come home to — and I hope to serve as a role model to those who follow.
What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?
A Cornell memory I will always treasure is my introductory German 1 class, which I took with Frau Matthias in Spring 2022. Our semester began on Zoom due to Covid, and I had no idea what I was getting into — but very quickly, I fell in love with the language learning process. I have vivid memories of closing out of the Zoom with the brightest smile on my face, despite barely knowing how to introduce myself or count to ten in the language. When we shifted in-person, I walked out of the classroom everyday feeling like I had unlocked another tiny piece of a new world. By the end of the semester, I knew I wanted to keep on learning more and decided to pursue a German minor — little would I know just a year later, I would be sitting in Frau Lischke’s office declaring the major. I look back at that first class with so much gratitude — it changed the trajectory of my Cornell experience.
How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?
When I first arrived at Cornell, I thought I needed to have everything figured out and a clear, actionable plan to follow. I thought success came from certainty and linearity — from knowing exactly what I wanted and building toward that singular goal. Quickly, however, my mindset began to shift. As I began to try new things at Cornell, I discovered passions I didn’t even know existed. Some of my most rewarding and fulfilling experiences came from deviations — spontaneous choices, unexpected classes and conversations that judged me in new directions. From German Studies to investment banking, ice hockey to education policy, I found my most interesting and fulfilling experiences through trying new things, and in doing so, I have learned so much about myself. This willingness to take risks, remain flexible and conquer novel challenges is a mentality I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.
If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?
You don’t have to fit a mold! The beauty of Cornell lies in its vastness in academics, extracurriculars, professional opportunities, social activities and more. You don’t have to choose between interests; in fact, much of my fulfillment in my college experience has come from embracing the full range of my passions and running with it, whatever direction it takes me. Double-major in two unrelated subjects! Explore professional clubs but also engage in the humanities! One thing I love about Cornell is how different everyone is, and engaging actively in whatever domain calls your heart allows you to create a college experience that is uniquely your own, which can reduce feelings of pressure or comparison. There’s no competition or comparison if you are the only person walking down your unique path! Enjoy that.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.Read more about the Class of 2025.
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