INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
New immigrant finds career path on campus
Tang, 22, is humble about his contributions to student life, even though he’s a Hughes Hall resident assistant, Hong Kong Exchange Square president, admissions office intern, XCEL Center consultant and tour guide.
“If something interests you, then you can find the time to work on it,” Tang said. His busy schedule also includes a course load of 18 credit hours.
Tang, a senior in the division of Human Development, became involved with the Hong Kong Exchange Square because he liked that the club is focused on explaining Hong Kong’s culture. “We do carry some of China’s culture and traditions, but we also have our own style of thinking and ideologies,” Tang said.
Tang said not many people realize that Hong Kong was a British colony, and consequently the culture has British influences. Karaoke nights and dinners are some of the events the organization holds to promote cultural awareness. “Gerald is just one of those students who just gives his all to everything he gets involved with,” said David
Hagerbaumer, director of campus life. Hagerbaumer works with Tang in the XCEL center and worked with him previously when Tang was an orientation assistant.
Tang is especially happy that his time at Binghamton University helped him decide to pursue a career in academic affairs, most likely at a university.
“Binghamton provided me with very good opportunities to adapt to the environment and to learn about U.S. culture,” Tang said.
Tang runs meetings, creates programs and comes up with fundraising ideas through his extracurricular activities, all valuable skills he’s glad he acquired.
“Being a president,” he said, “you have to use all different leadership skills you can’t learn from a book.”
