About Julie!

Hi everyone! I'm Julie, a senior history major from Huntington Beach, California. And I don't just mean I grew up in California, I lived there until I came to college in Asheville and my parents still live there. I've loved the 3+ years in Asheville thus far. I believe college is the opportunity to go somewhere completely different and gain some knowledge and experience.

Right now I'm working on my 25+ page history thesis. Our first draft is due in a little over a week! I researched Little Saigon in Westminster, CA and how the Vietnamese people along with the local government's efforts formed the largest Vietnamese community in the U.S. I chose the topic because my Chinese-Vietnamese parents came to the U.S. as part of the second wave/boat people in 1979. I won't go into detail, but you can e-mail me if you'd like to read my first draft. :) I lined up 10 UNCA friends and alums this weekend to help me edit!

I also spend 14-16 hours a week at the local high school tutoring 9th through 12th graders. That's more than I go to school but only because I'm taking a light semester. Tutoring is pretty much the best experience ever! This is my third year and second year as the first ever tutor leader. Because this is my last year with the program, I'm making sure I get the most out of my experience: I attend class with students sometimes especially when I'm tutoring Advanced Functions and Modeling and I go to each football game even away games (6 of my kids are on the team). I love my high schoolers - you really don't want me to go into any more detail here... my roommate and friends will tell you how they've learned to tune me out on the topic.

What else? I like Apple products, bad reality TV shows, Spanish, interior design, web and graphic design, shopping, watching mixed martial arts, downtown Asheville, Atlanta, and talking. :)

Questions? E-mail me at jaluong@unca.edu.