Humans of Cal Rotaract 2020

Cal Rotaract is a club full of selfless, diverse, and accomplished individuals. Each member contributes to the club in their own unique way, whether it be through service, fellowship, or support. We would like to highlight some of the stories and accomplishments of some of our Rotaract members through this semesters edition of Humans of Cal Rotaract. We hope you are able to learn more about these extraordinary individuals through their experiences listed down below.

Directory

Humans of Cal Rotaract

Alumni of Cal Rotaract

Humans of Cal Rotaract

Lauren Dela Rosa | West Sacramento, CA
Freshman | Math with a Teaching Concentration

Why did you join Cal Rotaract?

People during orientation really stressed the importance of finding a community on campus. Rotaract was really the first place that I ever felt that. The people here are all incredibly welcoming, but I think even more special than that is what brought everyone here together. The people here really only want to give to the community and don't expect anything in return. How could I not want to join?

What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract?

My favorite memory is probably from one of the service events we did, volunteering for the Berkeley Project. I do not have a green thumb by any means, so I wasn't really looking forward to the gardening. However, I ended up working with a group of people that made it enjoyable, and we were laughing and having fun the whole time. It cemented the idea that service can be more than just work especially with the right people.

What skills have you gained from Rotaract?

I think Rotaract has most helped me learn how to balance things in my life. I came into Berkeley expecting to devote myself solely to academics, the kind of person who would cry if I got anything below a 95. This club has reminded me that there are more important things that a person can do with their time. A healthy balance between school work and doing things for myself.

If you could give our past self a piece of advice, what would it be?

Loving yourself is a process, and it's okay to come across bumps in the road. Please don't be so hard on yourself; harping on yourself over not being nice to yourself is kind of counterproductive. It is also okay to ask for help along the way <3

What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone?

Honestly I think the personality trait I respect the most is confidence. Even if a person isn't genuinely confident, but holds themselves in such a way that it comes across as if they are, I automatically have faith in their abilities.
Zarah Maroof | Pinole, CA
Senior | Economics

Why did you join Rotaract? 

I joined Rotaract in my first semester at Cal in fall 2017. I had been a member of Interact in high school, so joining Rotaract felt like a good transition into college. I was extremely nervous to be in such a new place, so I was hoping Rotaract would ease my fears because it felt familiar to me.
What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract? 
My favorite aspect of Rotaract is that everyone seems genuinely excited to do community service. It’s hard to wake up early on a Saturday morning for a service project, but everyone here does it with a smile on their face. My favorite project would probably be VIDA Warehouse (where we pack medical supplies to ship to South America). I’ve participated in it 3 times, and it’s always exciting to think about how your actions could be positively impacting someone thousands of miles away.
What skills have you gained from Rotaract? 
Being a part of Rotaract has helped me develop my skills in compassion, time-management, teamwork, and communication.
If you could give your past self a piece of advice, what would it be? *
If I could give my past self a piece of advice, I would tell myself to stop stressing out about the little things. “If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes worrying about it.”
What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone? 
I instantly respect people who have discipline. Having the self-control to get things done (whether that be studying, working out, etc.) can be extremely difficult, so I have a lot of respect for people who can discipline themselves.
Forrest McCann | South Lake Tahoe
Freshman | Mathematics

Why did you join Rotaract? 

I joined Rotaract as a way to help people.
What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract? 
I enjoy that Rotaract helps people on the local, national, and international level.
What skills have you gained from Rotaract? 
So far in Rotaract, I've learned the importance of enthusiasm. Being surrounded by people who share my enthusiasm for service shows how effective a group of people can be.
If you could give your past self a piece of advice, what would it be? 
Be willing to talk to more people.
What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone? 
I like people who are outgoing.

Duy-Anh Dang | San Jose, CA

Freshman | Computer Science

Why did you join Rotaract? 

I had no friends and first semester was really rough for me. I wanted to find a wholesome community to bond with. I never joined Interact when I was in high school, so I also wanted to see what Rotaract was in college. Rotaract seemed like it had a purpose and was very involved in the community. Perfect.
What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract? 
I liked the campfire social. It was a wholesome night where we roasted everything. We roasted a lot of things like marshmallows, sausages, and Aady. I remember the atmosphere was nice and it was the first real social that I went to. I also got to work on my photography skills at the event, which was really fun.
What skills have you gained from Rotaract? 
I learned how to work on my photography, editing, video editing, and other camera work skills. On a personal level, I learned a lot of interpersonal skills by getting to meet a lot of new people and vibing with everybody. After having trouble finding a community my first semester, I was comfortable socializing with a group of people who I have grown close to.
If you could give your past self a piece of advice, what would it be? 
I would tell myself to not be afraid to crack under pressure. I would also want to tell myself to be yourself and tell jokes because that is what people like about me. I think being genuine has been a crucial part of me finding a group I belong to.
What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone? 
Interpersonal skill. That's it. If you can communicate with that person, it is easier to vibe with someone. A person who can communicate makes it hundred times easier to be more approachable. I'm always down to meet new people so if you ever see me hit me up >:).

Andrew Dinh | Gilroy, CA

Sophomore | Computer Science

Why did you join Rotaract? 

I did Interact in high school, and I wanted to continue my service through college and beyond. Also, a lot of my friends were in Rotaract.
What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract? 
I love how everybody in Rotaract is so welcoming and understanding
What skills have you gained from Rotaract? 
Compassion and teamwork have been the skills I’ve developed most through Rotaract
If you could give your past self a piece of advice, what would it be? 
Enjoy socializing with people before there’s a time when you can’t.
What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone? 
Being friendly

Nicholas Hy | Gilroy, CA

Sophomore | Integrative Biology

 

Why did you join Rotaract? 

I joined Rotaract because I wanted to find an organization where I could continue to perform community service. Rotaract was the perfect organization for me because of the immense passion and dedication towards service. I always see excitement and selfless behaviors in all of the members because the people of Rotaract are willing to put "service above self." This organization resonates with altruism, and I am glad to be a part of it alongside my friends.
What is your favorite memory/aspect of Rotaract? 
My favorite aspect of Rotaract is the family system because the Shawns welcomed me with open hands and influenced me to attend as many Rotaract events. I awkwardly joined Rotaract last spring, but the people in my family were the first people to guide me to be more involved with Rotaract. The family system is important because it allowed me to make new friends very quickly.
What skills have you gained from Rotaract? 
I have improved on my communication skills because Rotaract is a larger organization, so it placed me in a position to socialize with an abundance of new people. I tried to attend as many events as possible while meeting new people, so I placed my best effort in talking to as many people so that I do not feel like a stranger. Fortunately, the people of Rotaract are very outgoing, so it made me feel comfortable to converse with others in Rotaract.
If you could give your past self a piece of advice, what would it be? 
I would tell my past self a quote from John C. Maxwell, "Dreams don't work unless you do." These words are a source of motivation for me to pursue my goals.
What character trait makes you instantly attracted to or respect someone? 
I respect people who have integrity because it means that they act with honesty and great moral values. These kind of people have ethical leadership and are genuine with their actions, which I find respectable.

Cal Rotaract Alumni Spotlight

Samuel Kim | Moreno Valley, CA

Year Graduated: 2018

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology

LinkedIn Profile Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-kim-a86aba132/

What was your involvement when you were a part of Rotaract?

I was the local committee co-chair! I was part of all of the other committees and loved every single volunteer event from doing the international beach clean ups, Habitat for Humanity, Hot Meals, and our huge event Ignitus and Rotaract stayover!

How has Rotaract helped you professionally?

Rotaract helped me grow so much personally. It taught me awesome leadership and more importantly people skills that have helped me in my career and in my grad school application process. Plus, the friendships and professional relationships I was able to develop have tremendously helped me.

What is your favorite Rotaract memory?

Oh gosh, I can't pinpoint a single one. But our executive board really made out general meetings very fun during the semesters. We did different themes and I loved dressing up, living the theme, and doing projects related to the things we truly taught and preached. One of my favorite events was probably the Interact Stayover or local service's weekly commitment of tutoring and volunteering at SquashDrive!

If you could do anything you wanted without consequences or any restrictions (responsibilities, cost, time in history, etc), what would you do?

What wouldn't I do?!?! Honestly, I am passionate about a lot of things, but in a perfect world, I would end world hunger! I love and appreciate food and I think it is criminal that there are so many in the world and even in our communities around us that can't enjoy food as I do.

What's a movie that you could watch over and over again without getting tired of it? Favorite scene?

Any of the Avengers (The final battle scene in Endgame when everyone decides to just show up), Star Wars, Stepbrothers, Rat Race.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

Probably Ironman, because it would be nice to be a billionaire genius.

Felicia Hung | Saratoga, CA

Year Graduated: 2019

Major: Public Health

LinkedIn Profile Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciahung/

What are you currently doing career wise?

I'm currently at the Yale School of Public Health studying Environmental Health Sciences. I am currently doing research on the effects of secondhand e-cigarette smoke, toxic chemicals on art students and occupational health and safety.

What was your involvement when you were a part of Rotaract?

I went to Interact Stayover as an attendee myself and absolutely fell in love with Rotaract. When I got to Berkeley, I joined immediately. Aside from helping with the Stayovers, I was also one of the Fellowship chairs! From planning socials to leading the activities during GM, it was so fun doing them all!

How has Rotaract helped you professionally?

It has taught me a lot of the leadership and social skills that I have been using in my professional life. Developing those skills has helped me network and get to where I am today!
What is the biggest takeaway/ skill you've learned from your Rotaract experience?
You know that question that interviewers ask about a time you have failed? I always use Rotaract as an example of that. Academics really started picking up when I became an officer and having to learn that balance is one of the most important things I've learned. In addition, there was a lot of teamwork that was involved so I use Rotaract as an example whenever an interviewer asks about teamwork too!

What is your favorite Rotaract memory?

I'm a little biased but I absolutely loved banquets. I performed during my first ever banquet and it was so much fun. It's also nice to come together as a whole club at the end of a stressful semester and celebrating our achievements. I still look back to those photos and cherish them and my time with everyone to this day.

If you could do anything you wanted without consequences or any restrictions (responsibilities, cost, time in history, etc), what would you do?

If my stomach didn't have a limit, I would eat all the food my heart desires

What's a movie that you could watch over and over again without getting tired of it? Favorite scene?

Little Women (2019); THE ENTIRE THING

Is there a food you haven't tried before that you've been dying to try?

Nasi Goreng from Indonesia!

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

Does Obama count as a superhero?

Ragini Ghosh | New Delhi, India

Year Graduated: 2019

Major:  Political Science, Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies & Global Poverty and Practice 

What are you currently doing career wise?

Right now I work in a business immigration firm, which is different from family based immigration or humanitarian purposes, but at the same time I feel like I’ve slowly become more interested in the politics of immigration.

What was your involvement when you were a part of Rotaract?

I was an international committee co-chair with Tracy Chan in 2017 as an officer. In our first semester we focused on education while the second semester we focused on the refugee crisis. Our big project for the second semester was knitting quilt squares to patch into a blanket to send abroad. Our other focuses included fundraisers, the VIDA Warehouse, and the Berkeley Marina Shoreline cleanup. Before that I was just a general member. I was also a family head with Sandra and Cindy. I was once part of the Shawns my sophomore year as well. It was a fun way to be incorporated in the Rotaract community. 

How has Rotaract helped you professionally?

That is a really big question because the one direct way it relates to my career was I was really into service and that year our international committee service project was the refugee crisis. That was really interesting to me and that led to my deeper passion and career for immigration. Professionally, being in Rotaract and listening to other people’s opinions at international committee meetings has opened my views on immigration. 

What is the biggest takeaway/ skill you've learned from your Rotaract experience?

There are honestly so many. One of them is time management since you have to balance school and Rotaract work, especially since I was still adjusting to life in America such as language and small colloquialisms. For me, it also taught me to be okay with reaching out for help because at Rotaract we were all in this together. If we did have a problem, we always reminded each other we would face it as a team and be open to talking about our mistakes and obstacles. The last thing I learned was to always keep questioning and challenging your idea of service. 

What is your favorite Rotaract memory?

There are way too many but one of them was the Berkeley Project my freshman year. That particular day it was raining really hard and the wind was really strong so even if you had an umbrella it didn’t prevent you from being drenched. We were clearing out the weeds in a specific area and it was a lot of manual labor. On top of it, our lunch was an hour late. However, I realized no one really complained and we all went through it together. People would help each other out. Even though we were miserable, it was actually sort of funny because you had people with you going through the same experience and we bonded through that event a lot. I found most of my closest friends through Rotaract so that there are so many fond memories of grabbing food with other Rotaractors after a long day. 

If you could do anything you wanted without consequences or any restrictions (responsibilities, cost, time in history, etc), what would you do?

I would want to travel the world if money and distance weren’t an issue. Even just in India there are so many different places to visit. I haven’t travelled to Eastern Europe or to maybe somewhere like Antarctica. 

What's a movie that you could watch over and over again without getting tired of it? Favorite scene?

A classic response would be all the Harry Potter movies. Some other movies probably include KiKi’s Delivery Service as well as Avatar the Last Airbender even if it’s not a movie.

Is there a food you haven't tried before that you've been dying to try?

I haven’t tried durian. I know a lot of people talk about the smell, but I hear that people who had it early on in their childhood don’t actually mind the smell of durian. There’s also durian ice cream and lots of durian variants.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

I’m not very familiar with superheroes in general, but if I were to choose a superpower I would choose the power to heal or to be invisible. 

Linken Lam | Pleasanton, CA

Year Graduated: 2019

Major:  Psychology & Integrative Biology

What are you currently doing career wise?

I’m in the process of applying for graduate school for a masters in school counseling. 

What was your involvement when you were a part of Rotaract?

I started as a general member and I continued for all four years. My second semester freshman year I joined the Interact committee and volunteered at the Interact Stayover. For the next two Interact Stayovers I was a group leader. In 2018, I became one of the Interact committee co-chairs and finished my Rotaract experience as a group leader once again at my last Interact Stayover.

How has Rotaract helped you professionally?

I definitely wrote about it pretty extensively in my graduate school application. It’s also easier to apply to my career since I am going into school counseling and I worked with students through Interact. Interact embodies what I hope to do as a school counselor like working with big groups and diverse populations.

What is the biggest takeaway/ skill you've learned from your Rotaract experience?

I developed a lot of event planning skills. When I was a peer advisor, I planned a workshop that was similar to planning Rotaract events. Mainly it was the inspiration because Rotaract sharpened my focus on what I wanted my career to be. 

What is your favorite Rotaract memory?

It was my first Stayover since I was a volunteer. I basically became a pseudo group leaders since one of the group leaders had to leave halfway through the day. I enjoyed my first Interact Stayover so much that instead of studying for my math midterm I filled out the office application form to be a Interact committee co-chair. It just made me realize I definitely was passionate about it and wanted to be further involved in Rotaract.

If you could do anything you wanted without consequences or any restrictions (responsibilities, cost, time in history, etc), what would you do?

I probably would want to go time traveling. I have a lot of heroes I would like to meet. I am actually named after Lincoln, Nebraska which is named after President Lincoln. He has always been a big role model of mine. I would want to go back and have a conversation with him. 

What's a movie that you could watch over and over again without getting tired of it? Favorite scene?

I watch way too many movies to just pick one. Probably Inception because the movie really stuck to me on whether time and reality is real. My favorite scene from it would be all the world building that happened.

Is there a food you haven't tried before that you've been dying to try?

I probably would want to try raw oysters. I’ve had a lot of other raw seafood through sushi or poke, but never raw oysters. I really like deep fried oysters, but I haven’t had an opportunity to go to a fresh place to get raw oysters.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?

I would be Wolverine because he can’t die. He just comes back to life every time he “dies” so he effectively is immortal.