We come from a host of different backgrounds and environments. Keep reading to learn a bit more about us and the experiences that brought us to Lucent!
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Agnes

I grew up alongside 15 cousins. When they started applying to college and for jobs, I was assisting them in the admissions process without even realizing it. Resume help, interview prep, essay writing, you name it. As more and more of my family members applied for jobs and schools, my name started circulating around groups of family and friends. Turns out, I was actually pretty good at what I did! I liked the feeling of giving people their best chance. My most personal example of this is with my dad. He is an engineer and is brilliant, but English isn’t his first language. The language barrier prevented his resumes from showcasing his talents to the fullest extent. I’ve been helping my dad build his resumes since I was in high school. By breaking that language barrier, employers can now see him as I do. Even though language isn’t a factor for most of our clients, I love being able to give someone that extra boost so they can make their mark in the most genuine and impactful way.

Tilia

I grew up in Kuala Lumpur in a typical middle class family. My academic performance in secondary school was average. The reason for my unremarkable secondary experience wasn’t the inability to do well, it was the lack of incentives. I didn’t know I could do more, so I didn’t try. All of that changed when I met a group of American foreign exchange students in Australia. They went to Cornell, Duke, UCLA, and a host of other impressive schools. Talking to them convinced me that the United States would open doors to amazing opportunities. After that conversation, a lot of research, and a lot of mistakes, I finally made it to the United States and got my undergraduate degree in civil engineering. However, during my time at Stanford, I always wondered, “Where are all the Southeast Asians?” With a population twice the size of the United States, Southeast Asian representation at top institutions is not representative of our place in the world.  Maybe some Southeast Asians feel similar to how I felt: They don’t realize the height of their full potential, so they don’t try. I want that to change. With every Southeast Asian that joins a top institution, we set an example and make it easier for those that follow. You deserve to give yourself a shot to be great!​

Sui Seng

Like my partners, I love being an agent of change. I love fostering growth and helping someone realize how amazing they truly can be. An instance that will always stick with me was when I once worked with a first generation student who came from a single-parent family. She used to feel like her after-school job was such a bore, but really, it was incredible how much she was able to contribute to her family. With this in mind, I was so happy for her when she gained admission into a really good UC! So many students I’ve worked with feel they lead very ordinary lives, but they have actually done so much to overcome adversity. The college admissions process can be difficult and it can make a world of difference when you have someone in your corner believing in you and all you can accomplish.