It’s not unusual for a student to come to TC3 upon the recommendation of a family member. But the student body doesn’t include many who lived in China and then Chicago before being directed to Dryden. That’s the path that brought Haichuan Gu to TC3.

“I spent my first 17 years in Shanghai, China, and moved with my family to Chicago in 2023,” said Gu. “I wasn't ready for a four-year college.” It turns out a family member had studied at TC3 before and told another family member, who told Gu’s parents about this school in New York State. It proved to be the right place at the right time.

“When I first started college here, I was unconfident about my language and learning skills,” he said. “Thanks to the small class size, I was able to interact frequently with my professors and felt recognized by them.”

After doing well in his classes in his first semester, he was convinced to become a peer tutor. “I helped people with their studies and also boosted my social skills and confidence,” he said. Another semester later, he took a big step by applying to become a Resident Assistant in housing. “The interactions with my residents and fellow RAs have proven that I am capable of so much more than I had thought of,” said Gu.

His growth in confidence was directly tied to getting involved. Gu was part of the Math League since his first semester, and won the statewide competition of the New York State Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges (NYSMATYC) in 2024. He took part in trips to world famous attractions around the region with the Global Initiatives Office, and made memories and friends with events like karaoke put on by Student Activities, and bowling and paintball with Recreation Sports.

As a result, Gu made many friends. “Sophia Georgiakaki was my math teacher for the first year. She is the one who invited me to join the Math League and later recommended me as a tutor and an RA,” he said. “By doing so, she made me more confident.” He had similar praise for Sarah Wolff, who taught academic writing, and for Melinda Slawson, who invited him into the Global Office community and helped smooth the transition to studying in the U.S. Residence Hall Directors Katie Carroll and Kayla Torres also helped with his journey, working with him as an RA.

“They are all my friends,” said Gu. “They involve me in memorable events and celebrate my accomplishments.” And with students like Gu, there is a lot to celebrate.