Collin Wang (C ‘25) radiates passion and confidence in all walks of his life. From his love of visual art and design to his diverse academic pursuits, he is constantly exploring new ways to add meaning and excitement to his life. No matter what he is focused on at the moment, he is constantly dedicated to helping those around him both within Penn and beyond. From just a brief conversation with Collin, it is evident that he is a force of light, wisdom, and entertainment for all of those around him.
Name: Collin Wang
Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif.
Major: Psychology
Activities: Former Street design editor, marketing chair for Penn Q&A (Penn Queer and Asian), English tutor with Penn’s Graduate School of Education, lead character designer for Pencilbite Studio, member of Carriage Senior Society.
Can you tell me a little bit more about your journey with deciding what you wanted to major in?
I am in the College of Arts and Sciences and very recently decided to major in psychology after a long journey of constantly switching my major. My time at Penn has been filled with lots of exploring, experimenting, and trying new majors. I have explored various majors such as neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and many others as well. I came into Penn originally thinking I would explore biology, public health, or art. I took many new classes, and I began to break out of my bubble and explore new areas. In high school, you only take so many classes, and then you get to college and realize you can explore anything in which you are interested. I don’t think this experience is unique to me, and I am grateful that Penn has provided me with the opportunity to explore different spaces. Now, let’s just hope I can graduate in time! But for me, Penn is not where my exploring will end. I still have so many things I am interested in.
What was one class that made you realize you wanted to study psychology?
I took abnormal psych, where we discussed different mental illnesses. I had taken many different neuro classes before, but this was finally the perfect mixture; it was human–centered while still being scientific and empirical. For so long, I had been good at science, but I was bored of chem and bio. I wanted to try something new. I also recently took a class called “Asian American Gender and Sexuality,” which was a mix of anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and more, and I realized that there are so many things that are interesting, and they can all be connected. I can choose to major in one thing but really be able to explore so much more.
What has been your favorite extracurricular activity thus far?
I have loved all of my extracurricular activities. They have all allowed me to be social, meet new people, and explore my interests. I love Penn Q&A because it allows me to socialize with students from different backgrounds. We also do different social events and mixers with other affinity groups. I also love being a member of the Carriage Senior Society because it, too, allows me to be social and meet students that are similar in certain capacities but so different in other realms and from different backgrounds. Everyone just wants to have fun and be social. For both of these clubs, I also get to work on marketing and design, creating posters and flyers. I also loved my time on 34th Street working on the design team. I joined as a first year second semester and started working on design and illustrations. After my first year, I became the deputy design editor and loved being more involved. There are many queer people on the design team as well, so that has also been an amazing community. I then became editor, where I created a new vision for the magazine, revamped the templates, created a more standard look, and changed the layout. I loved working on a team and being able to learn from my peers and show them the ropes at the same time.
Can you tell me a little bit more about your experience being queer at Penn?
I am definitely not alone in saying that when you go to college, you have a clean slate. No one has any preconceived notions of who you are and you get to tap into your more authentic self. If people want to assume something about you, then let them. At Penn you meet people from many walks of life and personalities, and even if they are queer, they express it in different ways. Being queer is not always at the forefront of my mind, but I love the idea that I can express myself here and explore my identity. Penn was a new chapter for me and the first time I could have social connections that are somewhat predicated on the fact that they were all, at the very least, queer. It is the first time you get to choose your identity and tap into it.
It is clear that you are quite a creative person. How do you express yourself creatively?
I love visual arts, but definitely shy away from working with words. I love to draw, and I can be alone for hours looking at and connecting to people’s visuals, drawings, and designs. My emotions and brain just work through looking at visuals. My gears begin to turn when I am looking at art, and I begin to think about putting things together, why someone chose to put certain things together, and what would other people see based on what I see they like already? For example, I love looking at Pinterest and synthesizing what is aesthetic, what people find appealing, and why someone may feel that way. I guess that is probably the psychology major coming out of me. When I work on a design or a drawing, five hours can pass, and I think it’s been 30 minutes. I enter the flow state and only after do I realize that I’m hungry or dehydrated. I love that feeling. I have had times when inspiration has struck at midnight and I will work until 5 a.m., never once thinking about the time.
How did you originally find this passion?
I have been drawing since I was a kid. You know how every parent has boxes with their kids’ old artwork? Well, my work is in crates stuffed to the brim that fill the garage. When I got to Penn, my interest blossomed when I joined new clubs and started making posters and flyers. I began to love it even more, and people realized that I was good at communicating visually, creating community, and making information accessible for all through art. I would say this is really where my passion developed most.
What are some challenges you’ve faced while at Penn?
As I mentioned, academically, I was not settled for a while. This was challenging, especially at a place like Penn where everyone seems to have it all figured out. But, news flash … no one really does. It is OK if you don’t have it all figured out. Students should reckon with the fact that it is normal to not have direction and not have shame in it. Don’t let any indecisiveness hold you back, and sometimes it is actually better to not have one definitive plan or answer.
After being involved with so many activities and groups on campus, what’s next for you after Penn?
I do not know exactly yet, but I am leaning towards working in the therapy and counseling space. I love working with and talking to people. I think I am a very good listener, and I love to understand people’s perspectives and emphasize with them. I also love working with kids as they are so impressionable, and I feel I could make a real difference. I am also of course considering design and illustration, maybe something like art therapy to combine my interests.
Lightning round:
Soundtrack to your life: “Flower Boy” by Tyler, the Creator
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be: Tour all 50 states of the United States
Hot take: Cats are better than dogs
Comfort food: Chunky peanut butter
Favorite Philly food spot: Don Barriga
There are two types of people at Penn … those who are going to my wedding and those who aren’t.
And I’m … hopefully going to my own wedding.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Do you know that one senior who brings a smile to everyone’s face or always has the craaaaziest stories? It’s time to give them the recognition they deserve. Ego of the Week seeks to showcase seniors not for their grades or any other fake academic construct, but for who they are as a person and the joy they bring to the people around them! Nominate your favorite Penn seniors for Ego of the Week!
