The Connected Graduate
Finance Student Yen Ong Finds Herself at Bauer
Finance student Yen Ong is graduating from the C. T. Bauer College of Business as a completely different person than when she started.
Throughout most of her high school and community college experience, Ong described herself as someone who was shy and reserved. She tried to fit in by being like everyone else, she added.
When Ong started at Bauer, she made a promise to herself that she would step outside of her comfort zone. She got involved in different student organizations across the University of Houston and branched out to embrace new opportunities.
Now she is graduating in the Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony as a more confident, self-assured version of herself.
“I learned that you find more success when you just be yourself.”
Ong became an active member of the UH and Bauer community. Because she didn’t get involved in campus events or clubs throughout her early school years, she said she wanted to take full advantage of every opportunity that was available to her.
As a marketing intern in the UH Athletics Department, she expanded her social circle by connecting with students across campus. In the UH Scholars of Finance club, she learned how to be a good leader as Vice President of Marketing and Outreach and Executive Vice President.
“Being involved in the Scholars of Finance not only taught me how to be a leader, but also taught me how to use my experience to positively impact others,” she added.
At the start of the Fall 2025 semester, Ong was invited to speak in front of the Connecting Bauer to Business class. Through sharing her story, she was able to help other students who were just starting out in the same way people helped her at the start of her journey.
As she transitions into this next phase of her life, she said she has been spending time reflecting on how far she has come, as well as everything that the future holds for her.
If she could go back in time to talk to herself when she was a freshman, she would tell her to stop trying to be like everyone else and to just be herself.
“You don't have to fit in to belong — you belong by being yourself,” she said.
After graduation, Ong’s plans are to visit her family in Vietnam and travel around Asia before starting her full-time job at the Bank of America in New York City.
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