September 16, 2009
This
spring, 29 new members were inducted into St. John’s University’s
President’s Society. This most prestigious organization is made up
of students whose scholarship, integrity and maturity are
accompanied by leadership skills demonstrated by their significant
contribution to the extracurricular life at St. John’s.
Founded in 1968 to showcase the “best and brightest” among the
student body during a tumultuous time when the national perception
of college students was vastly negative, the President’s Society
still represents all that is best in St. John’s students.
The new Society members — 19 female and 10 male — are now
considered staff in the office of University President
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. During the upcoming year, they
will typically attend 15-20 presidential functions, acting as hosts
for honored guests who might include world or national leaders,
Board members, industry titans, and St. John’s alumni and
friends.
Interested students apply for membership in the Society in their
third year and serve during their fourth year. Three equally
important criteria are considered: academic achievement (generally
a 3.5 grade average); a comprehensive knowledge of the University
and an ability to articulate it fluently; and sustained leadership
within the University that includes service both on and off St.
John’s campuses. Members are selected by a committee of University
administrators after an intensive application and interview
process.
We invite you to meet Meet Michael Lam Chee
Kee ‘10
Sharing a Positive College Experience:
Michael Lam Chee Kee ‘10
When Michael Lam Cham Kee received word of his induction into St.
John’s University’s prestigious President’s Society, he felt that
four years of hard work were resoundingly validated.
“It’s such an honor,” he said. “I took it as a message that I’ve
been doing the right things since my freshman year — and that I
should keep building on that.”
A native of Mauritius, a small island off the east coast of Africa,
Michael had never traveled abroad before coming to St. John’s, but
that leap of faith has paid incredible dividends. While researching
colleges Michael came across St. John’s and was impressed by the
University’s
Actuarial Science program.
“I always liked math and business, but I also liked communicating,”
Michael observed. “There aren’t many actuaries back home, and I
thought it was a great profession. Plus, I wanted to go to school
in New York City. I know it was a real gamble, but I’ve always been
very independent and ambitious. I want to succeed.”
Encountering New Experiences
Success at St. John’s has offered eye-opening new experiences,
Michael said. For example, prior to his experience at St. John’s he
was never involved in service-related activities. But they have
become very important to him.
“My first real exposure to service came while living in the
residence halls,” he recalled. “My RA (resident assistant) invited
me to work at a shelter in the month of November.”
Once there, Michael’s preconceptions of homeless people were
shattered. “I interacted with them and it inspired me to do more.”
Since then, he has participated in the University’s annual Service
Day, gone on midnight runs and organized similar events himself now
that he is an RA.
Michael believes his role as an RA means much more than enforcing
rules. “It’s been very rewarding. Some people have never even
shared a room before. I like seeing how the students change and
grow over the year. I want to nurture them – not spoon feed them,
but give them what they need to grow.”
In fact, Michael had such a positive freshman year that he wanted
to help give incoming students a similar experience. “I wanted to
help students the way I was helped,” he said. He became a Peer
Academic Leader and a member of Project AIM (Asian International
Mentoring), a group which assists Asian students acclimate to their
new surroundings. Michael is also a member of the Math Club and the
Actuarial Club.
Michael also attributes his success at St. John’s to the support
and guidance of his professors. Each of his courses, he said, has
helped him in ways he never expected. For example, to complete a
recent business internship at Hewitt Associates in Manhattan,
Michael needed to do a presentation about his experience.
“Even though it was a business course,” he said, “I wound up using
a lot of what one of my speech professors taught me. I implemented
her advice and my mentor at Hewitt was very impressed.”
One University, Many Options
Though Michael began his academic career on the Queens campus of
St. John’s, much of his coursework now takes place on the Manhattan
campus (where he serves as an RA). He has relished both
experiences. “I’ve had the best of both worlds – two years in
Queens and now two in Manhattan.
“I’m glad I came to Queens first. It was an exciting place to
start, and I made many friends here.” Transitioning to Manhattan
was a challenge initially, but Michael has found the experience
equally rewarding.
“There are not as many students here,” he said. “But since we’re in
the heart of New York City, we don’t have to limit programming to
the building, and there you really live the metropolitan aspect of
the mission.”
Michael divides his time between Manhattan and Queens. “I still
come to Queens three days a week. My honors classes are here and
Project AIM meets here every Friday.” In addition, he is taking a
course in Mandarin Chinese. Already fluent in English and French,
Michael hopes being multi-lingual will be advantageous for him in
the future.
All his experiences at St. John’s have made Michael more confident
to accept leadership roles in the future. “I’ve become more
proactive. I take initiative and take steps to correct something I
see as wrong. It’s that interaction with people that is so
important.”