After spending her first year adjusting to college life, California Eta Karen Lacson established a foundation of support at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Karen is a junior studying business economics with an accounting emphasis, so she wanted to find like-minded individuals to help guide her through the college experience. Last year, Karen joined the Undergraduate Business Association where junior and senior students mentored her. Her membership allowed her to determine a focus because the business field is so broad.

During her second year, she debated on studying abroad. Some people told her she would not graduate in time, so she should just stay at UCI. Others encouraged her to to apply and see what would happen. Karen believes hearing the feedback motivated her to apply for a study abroad program for fall. She applied and was accepted. Upon finding out she was accepted and prior to leaving, Karen elected to take courses over the summer to subsidize her time away; a way to appease those who questioned if studying abroad would delay her graduation.

During fall quarter 2015, Karen spent three months at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. While abroad, Karen traveled to Italy, Paris and Switzerland. She had such a great experience that she hopes to land a job that will allow her to work overseas too! She encourages everyone, especially her Pi Phi sisters to “follow your goals and aspirations because you never know what other opportunities those may lead to.”

She owes a lot to people she met in clubs, classes and Pi Beta Phi. Her friends, mentors and peers have helped her make big decisions in her life. “[There are] so many incredible people that are around,” Karen said. “You lean on how they got to where they are and take bits and pieces to make your story unique.”