Student profiles

Nga Pham: Caldwell is a Place for Community and Opportunity

Nga Pham

When Nga Pham tells people about her double major in Financial Economics and Psychology, she knows the two fields sound worlds apart. However, at Caldwell College she has discovered how her two diverse passions can actually complement each other. She is now looking toward a possible career in Behavioral Finance, which uses psychology to understand the behavior of buyers and sellers in the stock market.

Nga also sees herself going back to her native Vietnam someday and finding ways to improve the healthcare options for people in Southeast Asia. That may sound like a very lofty aspiration for a junior in college, but Nga is finding ways to get closer to her goal. During the summer of 2009, she attended the Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh. The goal of the summit is to produce experienced, ethical leaders who will be equipped to address critical issues throughout the world. It was “a million dollars worth of opportunity,” said Nga. She went into the summit thinking she would make the best of it, but instead, she said, “they made the best out of me.”

Nga said it was wonderful to come away from the conference with the feeling that the mentors at the Academy truly believed that young students like her could be empowered to make a difference in the world. She came back to the Caldwell College campus and began working on research for a project to look at how healthcare options can be improved for International students.

What has given Nga the knowledge and confidence to pursue such specialized career goals? She says the support system at Caldwell College is key. “College should be a safe environment to test-drive your skills,” she said. “At Caldwell, it is ok to make mistakes now, rather than in the future.” She says she has found acceptance and support from all circles, including faculty, staff and friends.

Nga has taken advantage of many opportunities to become part of this support system herself on Caldwell’s campus. In fact, she serves as a Teacher Assistant for an Economics course, the Vice President of the Student Government Association, and a member of the Student Life Committee that reports to the Board of Trustees. She also belongs to Sigma Alpha Pi, the national honor society for leadership and success. It is very rewarding for her to be able to use these leadership positions to help other students strive for their goals and improve. Nga also credits the many scholarship opportunities available at Caldwell for helping her get this far.

When asked what her favorite thing to do at Caldwell is, Nga continues to stress the importance of community. “I don't think I will ever forget living in Mother Joseph Residence Hall. My wonderful friends and the residence life staff have created a great college experience for me. My friends and I have meals, watch TV, do homework, and sometimes go shopping together. Interacting with them forms in me a sense of community, helps me grow intellectually and enriches my character. What could be better than getting to hang out with good friends all day?”