Copley Connects _ Spring 2023

Student Spotlight continued from page 3

WHAT INSPIRES YOU/YOUR WORK? It’s always based on what I’m feeling that day, what’s going on, and what I can see. I love a nice view. It’s an adventure, that’s the way I see it, driving around until I find something that I like. It’s more about how I feel, what’s in my surroundings, whatev er captures my attention and makes me want to stop. I also do portrait photography either for my friends or a job. I do some graduation pictures, and it gets pretty intense sometimes, but I find a lot of happiness and joy in seeing someone smile when they receive my work, especially because I am trying to bring out the beauty in the person. It makes me feel good when I do that. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER OR ARTIST THAT YOU LOOK UP TO? The first one is my cousin, Ozzi. The other one would be Peter McKinnon. He’s the guy that I first watched his YouTube videos and learned a lot. It’s great content. He’s a cinematographer, photographer, social media director, all these things. He’s been one of my top influences. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU’VE LEARNED OR DEVELOPED IN THIS JOB THAT YOU THINK YOU’LL BE ABLE TO USE IN THE FUTURE? When I was working at the front desk, I developed my skills of being welcoming to students, faculty, or even strangers who are not affiliated with USD, like prospective students who try to get students’ feedback about the campus. I’m always willing to help people who need any type of support or a real voice to talk about their experience at USD. When I took on the photog raphy and social media position, it pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. I learned how to approach a random stranger and ask them to be a model for a picture. I never did that be fore because I was kind of scared. Now I am confident to ask in a nice way if they’ll pose for me. That’s a valuable skill I will continue to develop if I stay with this photography career. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST AFTER GRADUATION? Short term, I’m excited to finally walk as a first-generation student. It means a lot to me. I’m also looking forward to going to Cuernavaca, Mexico, my mom’s hometown. She hasn’t been back since she crossed over from Mexico. I have never been to my parents’ homeland because of the fear of all these bad things that could happen. It’s an honor that I’ll be able to understand my mom from a different standpoint, meet cousins and family for the first time, and be able to visit my grandpa’s grave. I never met him, but it will be meaningful to me and my mom. In the long term, I’m excited to start at Ernst & Young, one of “The Big 4” accounting firms. I’ve worked really hard to get a job there. As a first-generation student, I didn’t have a lot of guidance on how to navigate financial aid or campus, let alone how to get a job after you graduate. So I’m happy to start my career and be an independent adult with some income!

THE FAMILY CHAO: A NOVEL • by Lan Samantha Chang Lan Samantha Chang’s novel about the mystery taking place at the Fine Chao, a Chinese restaurant in Haven, Wisconsin, is an amazing read. The Fine Chao is owned by Leo Chao and his wife Winnie, Chinese immigrants who run the restaurant with their three American born sons, Dagou, Ming and James. The Chao’s family secrets begin to unravel when the three brothers reunite in Haven as the Chao family has to deal with the skeletons inside each of its members’ closets. This story was unconventional and unpredictable in the best way possible, and each chapter touched on themes of love, betrayal, identity, and legacy. The personalities living in Haven are funny and compelling, inviting you into their small world where the Fine Chao is the center of the Haven resident community in more ways than one. I loved the unique characters and mystery that unfolded between the pages.

WELCOME TO COPLEY CONNECTS. In this regular feature, we invite Copley librarians and staff members to share their recommendations for books. In this issue, we are excited to give one of our student assistants, Chantelle Tiya, center stage to share three of the books she has enjoyed most recently.

Hi, my name is Chantelle Tiya and I am a second year Ethnic Studies major at USD. I work in Access Services at Copley Library, and started working here my first semester as a freshman. I enjoy reading in my free time, so I love to recommend books I’ve been reading from the library!

CRYING IN HMART • by Michelle Zauner Crying in HMart is a memoir

BOOK LOVERS • by Emily Henry Emily Henry’s book subverts a common romance trope, bringing a refreshing and fun take on a love story. This story follows Nora, a tough, confident and honestly very cool heroine. Nora is a successful book editor who loves working at her dream job. She is the career-driven, ambitious and independent city girl that is often the scorned one in stereotypical relationship stories, where the woman usually has to give up a part of her life for love and the man isn’t required to change his views on women. Nora reluctantly decides to go on a trip with her sister in hopes of getting away for a while. Here, she meets Charlie, who coincidentally is also from the city. This story is interesting and humorous yet realistic and relatable. I recommend it!

written by Michelle Zauner about her relationship with her mother, when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Zauner is biracial, born to a Korean mother and white American father. Zauner struggles with losing the one connection she has to her Korean heritage through her mother. During the progression of the book, you learn about Zauner and her mother’s relationship as they come to terms with their shared past and the mistakes they’ve made over the years. This is a story that grapples with love, loss, and defining the importance of one’s identity. Crying in HMart is poignant and genuine, full of personal anecdotes and episodes that really bring you into Zauner’s world. This is a story that hits home for anyone who has straddled between two cultures or is on a journey to establish their identity.

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