Student Spotlight: Sandy Vo
From South Seattle to the University of Washington, Sandy Vo’s chasing big dreams as an English major and vice president of the CSF club. Passionate about writing, filmmaking and self-expression, she shares her journey of growth, overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing creativity. Read on for her advice on thriving in college, making the most of campus resources and staying true to yourself!
What is your hometown?
My hometown is South Seattle! My home state could’ve been Florida, but my parents decided that Washington had more opportunities for my brother and me.
How did you choose the University of Washington?
I chose the University of Washington for academia because it’s a place that’s always been foreshadowed for me from a young age. It’s close to home, and I believe that UW is a place that will enhance knowledge for the humanities and skills. I also love the gothic architecture of the campus, along with the sakura trees.
What is your major (or intended major)?
I’m an English major!
What is your dream job?
I aspire to become a well-known author. I also desire to become a filmmaker, script writer and perhaps handle some social media management. I also have a small interest in the world of paleontology. As long as my career revolves around creativity while teaching people the importance of empathy and human nature, then I’m happy.
Any clubs, activities or interests you are a part of outside of class?
I’m the current vice president of the CSF club at UW–Seattle! I’m a part of the poetry club and often attend archery club’s free shooting lessons. There’s some couple more clubs I want to be a part of, but for now it’s these. My hobbies are watching movies, painting, socializing and reading comic books, especially mangas and webtoons.
What has been the most surprising thing for you so far about college?
College is a storm of trials for perseverance and expectations, but that’s no surprise. The surprising things about it are how you handle it and how many resources there are for you. What surprised me the most is the number of times you’ll be alone and how much of yourself you need to present to others. But being alone doesn’t make you lonely; you can be at peace with yourself and feel at full capacity. College is a surprising journey of accepting what is there for you and what isn’t. The big surprise is the amount of life lessons and college situations I got to learn from. I surprised myself at the end of it. I got to be surprised with how I handle things as well and how well I was able to support myself through many tribulations. I was surprised how much I grew within these past three years at UW regarding finding myself and my ability to achieve things academically.
What is a challenge you have encountered in college, and how did you navigate it? (Or how are you navigating it?)
One of the challenges I’m facing right now is imposter syndrome. I have many doubts about my written works, and I’m still working on believing their credibility. It’s best to not compare yourself and your work to others, but be aware that everything that we create is an extension of ourselves, not us. I learned that from a writer’s perspective, without any doubts, are you truly writing? My perception of success is very high, and I tend to expect more from myself — that’s almost impossible to achieve. But I came to realize that I’m only human, and I can achieve success at my own pace while balancing rest and work. I learned that success is not a straight line; fearing failure is natural, but I have to remember to get back on track on my own terms. It’s also perfectly fine to ask for help and accommodations because there are campus resources that cater to us, and it’s important to take advantage of them.
What student supports and resources have you utilized that have been most helpful to you?
CSF has absolutely been wonderful. Initially, I was only comfortable with my CSF program from high school and was afraid to branch out to my university’s program. But one day I stepped out of my comfort zone and attended a group study with them. And now I’m here, in this student spotlight as their current vice president! Other sources of support are within my department, such as advisors and community. They are super friendly and can answer questions related to my major and other humanity-related issues and events. Two of these resources revolve around community and communication. Taking baby steps and asking for help is essential. You just gotta trust that there will be good outcomes by trying.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow students?
Being normal will get you nowhere far. There will be rude people everywhere you go, but don’t let that stop you from growing. Allow yourself to simply exist, never dim your light. Allow yourself to be sad, happy, angry, sensitive, everything, because bottling everything up isn’t healthy … you need to let yourself FEEL. It’s not a crime to be human. Unfortunately, in some spaces you tend to forget that you deserve rest and love, so it’s significant for us to be able to take the time to recharge. Openly communicate with yourself and others. And if you want to create something or do something new, do it! We are too ambitious to waste something grand over a momentary fear. We are born to use the spirit within us, not the other way around. Just remember to be concise in your future motion, and don’t forget that you and everyone else are absolutely valid and human. If things don’t go well, then take the moment to reflect on the situation and accept the experience, and learn on how to move on and grow from things that don’t serve you well. Be your own closure and truth.