Originally published on November 03, 2025.
Jialu Xu Olson, upon her completion of secondary school in China, had several attractive opportunities for a university education, and chose SUU for several reasons.
“At the time,” she says, “I had opportunities to study in Australia, England, and SUU. I chose SUU because it’s a true college town, where I could meet more local students and experience the culture firsthand. It also felt safer than bigger cities and offered more affordable tuition, which made the decision feel right for me.”
By all accounts, she made a wise choice as she integrated well with the University culture here.
“I made great friends with my roommates in the dorm,” she says. “We picked classes together, studied, and even went on road trips. They invited me to their homes for my first Thanksgiving and Christmas, which meant a lot. I also got my first job at SUU in the International Student Office, which reminded me that I could achieve the same things as everyone else.”
Also, she volunteered at different events, from park clean-ups to helping in a hospital emergency room. She also prepared science class materials for local elementary school students.
“Each experience gave me a chance to give back, meet people, and learn more about the community,” she says.
And, she adds, she has carried with her several attributes gained here.
“I’ve learned to hold onto good intentions and kindness, and to never give up. Once you start working toward a goal, the right people and opportunities have a way of showing up to help you along the way.”
Today she is quite happily a CPA and fixed asset accountant for Apple in Austin, Texas.
