Making an impact with the AUCAA: Interview with Chair, Thao Lam ‘16
Hi Thao, could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Thao and I've been part of the AUCAA since 2021. I graduated in 2016 with a Sciences major, and I’ve since stayed in the Netherlands to do my master’s and then my PhD. I’m currently wrapping up the final phase of my PhD and I live in Zeist with my husband and sister. In my free time I love to go swing dancing!
Why did you decide to join the AUCAA?
AUC had always been on my mind after I graduated, because I had a really great time! I keep finding myself coming back to AUC. In 2021 I suddenly had a lot of free time because of Covid and given my level of experience and professional maturity I felt ready to join the board. When I saw the vacancy I went for it and applied.
What has been the highlight of your time with the AUCAA?
A recent highlight was the AUC Fuck Up night, where I got to be one of the speakers! During the that event I, together with two other members from the AUC community, shared our stories of failure. This event was organized to help destigmatize failure for the perfectionists in our community. Besides the events that we’ve organized as a board, I also often got to share my life stories and experiences with students and with AUC. Overall it was just a great experience.
What challenges do you see for the AUC alumni community in the future?
The world is changing rapidly, and the current climate is a really confusing place to graduate into. Despite those challenges I also see a lot of hope. I think the AUCAA can serve as an anchor for our alumni community. I would love to see more connections within the AUC alumni community and more participation with our events! We have so much more potential to connect alumni, students and AUC as an institution through online and offline mechanisms. In that sense, this is also a call for interested parties to join because we're expanding and we would love to have new energy in the board!
Any advice for future AUCAA members?
Anything is possible! We're just a bunch of alumni who are interested and passionate. Dare to really embed yourself in the process. In my last few years I wasn’t only a part of the AUCAA, but I was also able to join the AUC Scholarship Fund board, and advise AUC’s International Advisory Board. You have the space to share your voice and really make an impact on a higher level.