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AiLing Sung

Biography

Profile: May of 2011 was a special time for the Sung family of Chicago.  AiLing, 21, and her younger sister Aichen, 19, both graduated from Wilbur Wright College, part of the City College of Chicago system, and both were awarded Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships.  The new Scholars came to the U.S. with their parents in 2006 when their father, Rev. GauHong Sung accepted a position with a church in the Windy City.  AiLing studied business and accounting at Wilbur Wright and was an honors graduate, racking up a perfect 4.0 GPA.  Except for the language and culture differences, AiLing had no problems adjusting to the American educational system.  She explained the transition this way: “After ten years of extremely competitive study at the highest levels in Taiwan, I came to United States in 2006 knowing that I was fully prepared to take on any academic challenges. I had grown up in an academic  environment where it was expected that students would memorize the materials for each of ten subjects by heart every semester. With love and support from family and friends, I overcame the language barrier and learned to read in an entirely different language.”  With a fairly regimented schedule, AiLing still understood the importance of community service.  In her “free time” she tutored fellow students in calculus and accounting that were having trouble with those subjects and she also volunteered at the Chicago Bible Bookstore and the Church of Chicago, where her dad was a minister.

Inspiration:  At Wright College, AiLing was fortunate to meet a wonderful couple.  “My accomplishments and dreams were realized with the help of my best friends and mentors, Paul and Laura,” said AiLing.  “After I started college, they offered their editorial experiences and taught me to write at an academic level.”  AiLing’s writing and essays jumped from a high school level to a true college level with their help.

Aspiration:  AiLing will earn her accounting degree at the nearby campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.  She wants to become a Certified Public Accounting and also work toward an MBA.

Making a Difference: To excel at an American college, AiLing had to overcome the language barrier that most immigrants are faced with.  “Through voracious reading I expanded my vocabulary and was able to get some insight into the diversity of English-speaking culture. I learned not to make excuses for myself but simply to believe that I could always do better and reach higher. As a Christian, I believe that God has given me the rare privilege of studying in the United States, the land of opportunity for so many peoples around the world. I feel that I have been entrusted with an obligation to push my limits and live up to the expectations not only of others but also of myself.”

Accolades:  In 2010 AiLing was named a Presidential scholar.  She was also elected to membership in  Phi Theta Kappa and was awarded the Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600 Scholarship. 

Interesting Fact:  It’s a fact that little children are attracted to and love AiLing.  “I am known to be a giant magnet for children by all who know me well. I have a natural gift for charming little kids of all different nationalities and cultures. I can put a fussy baby to sleep in my arms and I can make any toddler follow closely behind me as if I were their mobile entertainment center.”

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