Video: Excellence within reach: Zoe Tang

Zoe Tang ’28, a first-year student, talks directly to camera about her experiences attending UNC-Chapel Hill. Tang is shown in a chemistry lab and walking around campus as well as in photographs from childhood and high school.

“I was born in New York, but I've actually moved around quite a bit in my life. I lived in China for a few years, and around six years ago I moved to Forrest City, North Carolina. It was easy to adjust since it was quiet. People were very friendly and I got a taste of southern hospitality. Moving to North Carolina allowed us for a better opportunity.”

“My dad was able to help a family member with a restaurant. The restaurant is a hibachi grill. It's kind of like a family business. After school, I would go and help at the restaurant. I helped with tagging the plates. I worked the drive thru line as well as the dine in. I've worked at the restaurant for around six years now.”

“Growing up and within my family, we all have a very close relationship. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the fall of 2018. My mom was the main kind of like provider and glue for our family. When my mother got sick, I would do all these tasks that she would have done. It has taught me a lot of skills and made me really resilient today.”

“Over a senior year, I realized that Carolina would be a top choice of a school for me. I knew about the institution because my brother was attending the community that Carolina has, and the balance between the social life and academics. That made it an easy decision to place Carolina. In my rankings of schools, I was applying to being accepted into Carolina.”

“I was given several grants and scholarships to attend the institution. For example, I'm a Carolina Covenant Scholar as well as a Carolina morgenstern scholar, so I will be graduating Carolina debt free. While applying to Carolina, I knew that the school had a really great Stem program. That was also a very big factor of me applying to the school.”

“Since seeing my mom go through her cancer journey and seeing how impactful cancer is to lots of different families. It kind of made me want to find a career in medicine. I hope to become a physician that shows compassion and expertise to their patients. Just like the way that my mom's doctor did. Carolina offers everything that I need to thrive a strong academic foundation, countless opportunities to grow, as well as continuing my journey and go to where I want to be in the future.”

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216 million awarded an undergraduate aid in the 2023 through 2024 academic year.

Nearly 70% of undergraduate students graduate without student loans.

Number nine among U.S. research institutions and top in North Carolina for research activity from National Science Foundation.

Excellence within reach. Visit: excellence.unc.edu.