Navigating UMass Amherst

UMass has a place for everyone, with its plethora of opportunities and offerings in every sphere of a college student’s life, be it academics, professional development, or even hobbies. No one exemplifies this more than Kalley Hou, a multifaceted junior at UMass Amherst majoring in marketing with certificates in real estate and business analytics. For Kalley, coming to UMass helped her further her holistic growth and drew her closer to her passions, both personal and professional.

Kalley began her college career in an unconventional way as the COVID-19 pandemic confined her and her classmates to their rooms throughout their first semester. With classes being held on Zoom and other virtual platforms, Kalley found it extremely hard to socialize with and meet new people, “especially with everyone having their cameras and mics turned off,” she remarked humorously. Normally, a student’s first semester at UMass is filled with a number of new and unique experiences offered by the huge campus. What helped Kalley navigate a fully remote semester were the virtual meetings held by the RSOs she was interested in, which helped her bond with folks with similar interests.

Transitioning to an in-person setting was made easier through Kalley’s involvement in a number of clubs that aligned with her diverse interests. Driven by a passion to remain connected with her roots and develop a deeper appreciation of the beauty of her culture, she joined the Asian American Student Association (AASA) and was inducted into the E-Board as the organization’s Fundraising Coordinator. Speaking of her experience working with AASA, she remarked that “[AASA] has given me the opportunity to connect with some of the most passionate, culturally-oriented, and hardworking people at UMass.” Her quest for building community and connecting with Asian folks at UMass encouraged her to rush for Sigma Psi Zeta, a sorority for Asian/Asian-American women founded on the virtues of philanthropy and unity. Being a sister has helped her celebrate the “resilience and enduring sisterhood of her fellow Asian-American women” while helping her forge lifelong friendships.

Besides cultural organizations, Kalley is involved with the Altitude’s 5:Dirty Crew, a diverse group of folks with “nothing but contagious enthusiasm and a fierce passion for dance.” Dance has always been Kalley’s creative outlet and she is grateful to Altitude for allowing her to continue her hobbies while being able to unwind and take a break from her rigorous academic schedule. Professional development is also an important part of Kalley’s life at UMass, which she has been able to focus on through Delta Sigma Pi, an exclusive co-ed professional business fraternity. By being involved in Delta Sigma Pi, Kalley has connected with other students with similar academic pursuits and it has served as her one-stop resource for any and all questions she has about her career or academics.

Speaking about every student’s favorite thing at UMass—the top-notch dining—Kalley appreciates the university’s efforts to regularly incorporate Chinese cuisine into the menus. “Seeing the food my mom would make at home transports me back to Shrewsbury and it feels like I never left home!” she says.

UMass’s flexibility and support allows students to be involved in a number of organizations while maintaining stellar academic records. By putting herself out there, Kalley has made the best out of her experience at UMass and found opportunities for personal, professional, and social growth.