Minor in Chinese

Anders Ogelman

What inspired you to choose your major and/or minor?  

I chose my major because I have been interested in computer science for a long time (since 4th grade!). I have seen the impact that computers have had on the world and myself as I've grown up, and I want to have the skills to interact with them and use them to make the world better. I chose my minor because I have been interested in the Chinese language, philosophy and history since high school. I had always planned to study Chinese in college, but after becoming more involved with the GMU Chinese program through clubs, classes, and my position as Assistant Social Media Coordinator, I decided to officially minor in Chinese.

What has been your favorite class so far at Mason?

  It's a tie between Chinese 101 and CS 262 (Introduction to low-level programming). I loved Chinese 101 because it was a small class with wonderful professor, and everyone in it was very dedicated to learning the language. All together, this created a welcoming and generally fantastic learning environment. I am taking CS262 now, and I enjoy it because it covers aspects of Computer Science that I have been interested in for a long time but have neglected to properly learn about. Additionally, my professor for this class is also fantastic. 

Who has been your favorite professor so far at Mason?

  This is a very very difficult choice to make (particularly within the Chinese Language program), but ultimately I think my favorite professor has been professor Xi Chen for Chinese 101. The class was organized in a relatively loose and informal way, which might stress me out in another context, but because of professor Chen's consistency and charisma I never felt lost in class. She also cultivated an environment in which we students felt comfortable in front of her and each other, which is crucial when learning a spoken language. 

What are you most excited about for this academic year?

  As it's only my second year at Mason, I spent most of my previous semesters finding my footing and working out academic and personal habits that can sustain me through the rest of my college experiences. This year, I'm excited to put these habits to the test and fully solidify myself as a college student and member of the Mason community. I am particularly excited to see how this manifests in my involvement with the GMU Chinese program, and I hope to be more active in clubs, events, and classes.

What are your career goals after graduating from Mason?

  My long term career goal is to become a Computer Science professor, but I may try to spend some time  working in the industry first. In all honesty, I will be happy in virtually any job that allows me to write code. Additionally, I hope to find a job that allows me to utilize my knowledge of Chinese. 

What has been your most meaningful experience in the Department of Modern & Classical Languages so far?

  My most meaningful experiences with the MCL have been the Mid-Autumn festival and Lunar New year celebrations that the GMU Chinese program has put on. The Mid-Autumn festival celebration in the 2022 fall semester at GMU was my first exposure to GMU's Chinese program outside of class, and also my first introduction to many people I am now friends and coworkers with. Since then, I have appreciated these events for the opportunities they provide to engage with a variety of aspects of Chinese culture, and the awareness they bring to the other events and clubs the GMU Chinese program facilitates.

What does learning a new language and culture mean to you? 

  To me, learning a new language and culture is all about learning to understand a set of frameworks and procedures for understanding and communicating about the world that differ from those with which you were raised. I believe that this process both broadens your ability to interact with and relate to people across the world, and also provides you with new avenues of thought and expression.

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time and/or what (if any) campus activities do you enjoy engaging in at Mason?

  In my free time, I like to spend time with my friends and work on personal programming and musical projects. I also enjoy going to clubs (mostly relating to the GMU Chinese program). I am also a member of the fraternity Phi Delta Theta, and I enjoy spending time with my fellow members.