Chi Che

MSB ’14
Age: 22
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Major: Finance
Minor: Economics

Do you feel obliged to be busy at Georgetown?
I can see the temptation or the influences, and there is definitely the culture to be that way, but I’ve kind of just gone at my own pace, in my own style, to stray away from that typical work culture we’re famous for. My junior and senior year, I’ve gotten away from that; I try to do my own thing, take my time and do what I want to do.

What do you find most frustrating about Georgetown?
I’d say the administration’s lack of effort to promote more diversity and their unwillingness to push initiatives that would make people more aware of people’s differences or to push more initiatives for more inclusion and awareness of diversity. We talk about this in some of my classes, but a lot of the times, we can help in that area by including some sort of diversity training or awareness in New Student Orientation. I know we have Pluralism in Action, which is good, but I feel like we can extend that more and try to make it more impactful. We need it to be more than just that one time – maybe make it throughout the year. Maybe we make students take a sociology class as part of requirements. We have math and science requirements and social requirements, but sociology is overlooked even though it is one of the most impactful things that a student can have in terms of interacting with people, engaging with people and making Georgetown a better place for all races and ethnicities and genders.

What do you think of the party culture at Georgetown?
For me personally, it’s not that great, compared to especially freshman and sophomore years. Unless you’re in a club, it’s very difficult to go out on a Friday or Saturday. You’re often looking around for a party if you’re not part of a club. I obviously don’t condone excessive partying, but it could be better in a sense. In junior and senior year, it’s better in a way because you turn 21 and you can go to more places.

What do you like most about Georgetown? 
I do love the people here; I’ve met some great friends here as well. There are some very awesome, engaging, smart, intelligent people, and I have loved interacting with them and learning about their different backgrounds. And I love sports and school spirit, especially around basketball. That’s what’s kept me going — the camaraderie we have and the legacy. 

Will you donate to Georgetown and why?
I was actually talking about this to a friend today. Not until I pay off my student loans! I’d say if I like the direction they go in, if I feel like they’ve changed, then I will. But if they’re still going the same path we’re going on, and racial tensions and diversity are still what they were when I was here, then I definitely won’t donate.

What do you hope Georgetown will help you accomplish, beyond finding a job?
I think cura personalis is actually a real thing. It definitely helped me care more about other people. I’ve definitely grown: I’ve expanded my mind and my horizons, and I now understand that the purpose of life is not to just gain money or be wealthy but to impact other people, leave a legacy and change people’s lives. Even if it might be one person, it might be significant. Georgetown has helped me operate in that manner and be a person who’s giving and altruistic in that sense. 

Where are you from? Compare and contrast it to Georgetown. Where are you more comfortable?
I grew up in a very multicultural, diverse background — Cambridge, Mass., and Somerville, Mass., in particular. There are definitely people from all different backgrounds. Some of my best friends are Nepalese, Haitian or Jewish. You never felt uncomfortable; it was just very open and accepting. They valued you, they appreciated you for who you were — more compared to Georgetown. It was definitely a big adjustment for me, especially given the dominantly white, wealthy people who are in this school. Adjusting to that and seeing how to operate around them, but trying to still be true to who I was, was difficult, but I’ve managed it well.

What do you do to relax?
I watch sports. ESPN is the Bible to me. I hang out with friends. Nothing out there. I like to go to clubs and dance. 

If you could lead a protest on one thing, what would it be?
More of the protests that have been going on recently in terms of racial profiling or the incarceration numbers among people of color in this nation.

What was the most rewarding experience at Georgetown? 
The most rewarding experience I’ve had was not at Georgetown but when I was studying abroad in South Africa, in Cape Town. I was tutoring for about a six-month time frame for these eighth grade and high school boys and girls. These people were such smart, engaging, loving kids — happy kids. It was a great experience working with them and seeing their eagerness to learn and the smiles on their faces amid such poverty. There’s something really powerful and special that kind of stays with you and makes you want to do more in this world, and it makes you want to relive that experience and extend it in a way. You definitely come back here and realize that people don’t understand how thankful or appreciative they should be. Hearing them complain about some stupid problem they have — there’s a lot more to life than what we care about. My Cameroonian culture is something that is a very big part of my life. The tradition, the history, the music — just growing up in that kind of environment definitely made me into a strong-willed man and respectful person. It gave me a resolve that’s made me a better overall person for sure. 

Interview by Braden McDonald