Community is defined as creating a lifetime of unity and support. No one exemplifies this more than June Chang. With her effusive, warm, and outgoing personality, she easily brings people together and forms communities where they didn’t exist before. Anyone who has met her knows she is quick to strike up conversations with strangers, ask new friends to join her for dinner, or include others on her latest vacation plans.

June’s demonstration of community personally struck home for me a few weeks ago after a particularly baffling Statistics class. I confided in her that I had just sat through a 1.5 hour lecture where I had no idea what was going on. Given that Statistics content keeps building upon itself and was rapidly becoming more and more complex, I felt like I was drowning in quicksand and afraid that I wouldn’t catch up in time for the final. Without hesitating, she put a 5 hour Saturday study session on my calendar to sit with me and go through each lecture, even though I knew she had other extracurricular activities she was committed to (and we all know how precious time is at Wharton). She quickly pointed out that she was no Statistics expert, but that we would figure it out together. In this small way, she let me know I was not alone in my uphill battle and immediately lessened my Statistics-induced anxiety and stress. What made this even more poignant to me was the quick and unconscious nature of her gesture; I’ve always believed that it’s what an individual does when no one else is watching that defines their character. June went out of her way to support me and prioritize my success over her other commitments, even though she would receive little visible benefit. I am sure she is this way not only towards me, but also the many other students in our Wharton community.

Though June and I have only known each other for a few short months, this small action speaks volumes about her character and I am certain she will continue to be a source of support and friendship for me even long after we leave Wharton. This is why June Chang embodies the Wharton Core Value of Community.

The core values were ratified by the full-time MBA student body in spring of 2012.  They serve as common guideposts for all Wharton MBAs as they pursue their individual endeavors