Joy Guan's experience of the Ivan Allen College and Georgia Tech is of an ever-broadening circle of knowledge that has brought her future into focus.

A junior majoring in economics with minors in Spanish and public policy, Guan places a high value on the personal attention and guidance she's received from faculty and advisors. "They helped me find the best direction for me," says Guan, "and encouraged me to pursue my interests in Spanish, language immersion, and travel."

Guan, who speaks Mandarin Chinese, French, English, and Spanish, is in her second year living in Georgia Tech's International House. Guan lives in the dorm that is half exchange students and half U.S. students with an interest in international affairs and culture. "It so amazingly touches the heart," says Guan. She believes the program is one of the best on campus. "The value," says Guan, "extends far beyond the simple experiences. We constantly learn from each other about our cultures, histories, values, perspectives - everything."

Those interactions have helped Guan find direction for her career. She was deeply affected by reading a selection from the I-house book club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a Swedish work with traumatic representations of sexual violence. "I had difficulty sleeping after reading that, but it made me realize the intensity of the problem that we never talk about in our society." The book shaped Guan's decision to pursue a career in the non-profit arena, fighting for an end to sexual violence globally. "I can help those organizations become more economically efficient in order to reach a broader audience with assistance and awareness."

Guan has already mobilized toward that goal by becoming heavily involved in the Women's Awareness Month activities on campus, including the recent "Take Back the Night" vigil; volunteering at a shelter for victims of domestic violence; the Red Dress Fashion Show; and The Vagina Monologues. She is a member of the Ivan Allen College Student Advisory Board, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, and is looking forward to being inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society for Economics. Guan plans to pursue the President's Undergraduate Research Award under the guidance of Economics Professor Christine Ries.