photo by BENJAMIN KRAIN --11/06/18.Christina Gu for student stories profile
Junior Christina Gu may have grown up thousands of miles away, but Arkansas is as much a home to her today as her birthplace is.
Gu has been a student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock since August of 2016 and is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting and is set to graduate in May of 2020.
Originally from Jiaxing, China, a large city with a population of over 4 million, Gu enrolled in a foreign exchange program when she was in high school and soon left for the United States. The host family that chose her lived in Prattsville, a small town in Grant County with a population of about 300. They had a daughter the same age as Gu, and both girls attended high school in nearby Poyen.
鈥淢y host family is my second family. My host sister is my sister,鈥� said Gu. 鈥淚 still go home to China for holidays, but while I鈥檓 here they are my home.鈥�
In her first year in Arkansas, Gu developed an interest in accounting from her host mom, a CPA, who introduced her both to what she does in her career as well as how taxes and other financial systems operate in the United States. At Poyen High School, Gu also was mentored by her guidance counselor, who happens to be the mother of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Corps Program Coordinator Amber Wolf. Gu soon decided that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was where she wanted to go.
鈥淪he told me about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and CLC, and about what her daughter did. When I got here they made everything so easy. Amber, in particular, has made everything less stressful for me, and I鈥檓 really lucky to have her here,鈥� said Gu. 鈥淚 got in touch with International Student Services next. They鈥檙e really sweet and they know what they鈥檙e doing, and Miss Chloe is my fave!鈥�
At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Gu has found a place where she can develop academically, professionally, and personally. Aside from CLC, she also joined Chi Omega, which she describes as 鈥渢he best sisterhood I could ask for.鈥� She has served as president of the Chinese Student and Scholars Association and is currently working toward membership in Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honor society.
鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is a small campus, but everyone is very kind and welcoming,鈥� Gu said. 鈥淚 also enjoy the multiculturalism and how everyone here is from a different background. I think it鈥檚 great how not everyone here is a traditional student. I鈥檝e gotten to meet so many kinds of people because of that.鈥�
Although her major is in accounting and finance, Gu says that her true passion lies in fashion, in which she hopes to build a career.
鈥淭his may sound weird, but I just love fashion,鈥� Gu said. 鈥淚 love everything from streetwear to high-end things. I鈥檓 hoping that one day I can use my business background that I鈥檓 getting here to work in marketing or something similar in the fashion industry.鈥�
In her relatively short time here, Gu says that above all else the state of Arkansas continues to impress her, and she plans on staying as long as she can.
鈥淕rowing up in a big, crowded city in China I had never seen nature like we have in Arkansas,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 still seeing things every day that really put things into perspective. Little Rock is such a great city, and I鈥檓 thankful that I get to study here. I plan on staying involved for as long as and in any way that I can.鈥�
