Hi everyone, my name is Emily! I graduated in 2021 with a B.S. in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. I’m entering my 2nd year of optometry school at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois!
I joined Kati in 2017 and remained fairly active until my 4th year! I wouldn’t change my experience in Kati for anything. I grew up somewhat isolated from Filipino culture, so entering college I was searching for a community that could influence me for the better. Luckily, I didn’t have to search far because Kati accepted me so quickly. The people I met through Kati were so welcoming and I’m proud to say that some of my closest friends to this day I met through Kati!
I participated in Stage Crew for PACN all 4 years. My favorite memory was joking around backstage with members of stage crew. We would be laughing so hard that we would nearly miss our cues to switch scenes. PACN practices quickly became the highlights of my day. I think that’s one of the best parts of Kati: school is challenging, but with my friends I could forget about my responsibilities for a quick 4 hours. I always knew PACN practice would have me smiling and surrounded by my favorite people. I enjoyed it so much that I became Stage Crew Manager my 4th year. Even though we didn’t have a stage for “Too Good To Say Goodbye” in 2021, it was an honor to work alongside my friends.
My advice for current members is to savor the moment! Organizations like Katipunan are truly special & are hard to find. Trust me, I’m forever thankful for the opportunities and friendships Kati offered me. Take advantage of it!
With love from Chicago,
Emily Chong
P.s. if you’re interested in pursuing optometry or hearing about my optometric journey, don’t hesitate to reach out! My instagram is @emily_ _chong :)
