Katie Wu ’24
At The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Katie Wu is studying finance and artificial intelligence. She is the student manager for Penn's women's basketball team, works with real clients through her consulting club, and plays club basketball on weekends. But her favorite part of college isn’t the resume lines—it’s the independence.
“I’ve always looked forward to adulthood,” she says. “I’m the eldest daughter in an immigrant family, so I spent a lot of time helping with paperwork, translating, being responsible. I was excited to make choices just for myself.”
That instinct—to take initiative, to lead, to learn by doing—was something Katie honed at Bay. There, she learned that independence isn’t just about freedom—it’s about engagement. It’s about using what you’ve been given to make something meaningful. “Bay taught me to show up, to take part, to care,” she says. “It still shapes how I learn and work today.”
Values Meet Ambition
Katie grew up in San Francisco, where her parents have run a bakery in the Tenderloin for nearly two decades. Working there gave her an early education in hard work, connection, and empathy.
“I met people from every walk of life,” she says. “It was a constant reminder of how different people’s circumstances can be—and how much community matters.”
That awareness deepened at Bay, especially during her Poverty and Justice Immersive. “We studied wealth disparity in the U.S., especially in San Francisco,” she says. “It helped me understand that business—and success—can be a tool for justice. It made me want to approach economics and finance with more intention and care.”
That perspective now shapes her work at Wharton, where she’s majoring in finance and artificial intelligence with a minor in urban studies. “I want to be part of business spaces that are innovative and socially responsible,” she says. “To find ways that success and equity can coexist.”
Choosing Bay: Curiosity First
Katie first heard about Bay by chance. “At a high school fair, everyone had these blue Bay tote bags,” she said. “I didn’t know much about the school, but I wanted a tote bag! And then, I really liked the energy.” When she interviewed, she decided to be completely honest.
“I told them, ‘I don’t know what I want to do with my life. But I think if I go to Bay, I’ll get to try new things and actually experience what I’m learning.’”
That intuition proved right. At Bay, she said yes to everything—student leadership, basketball, and Immersives. “I was super intentional from the moment I got in,” she says. “I wanted to make the most of it.”
That willingness to dive in—to test and try—is something she’s carried into college. “For me, a lot of college is lectures,” she says. “So I joined clubs and internships that let me get hands-on with what I was learning. Bay taught me that I learn best that way.”
Facing Fear Through Experience
At Bay, learning was never a spectator sport. In Immersives, Katie studied poverty, built creative projects, and even ate rocks in a geology course. In classrooms, she practiced public speaking, debated complex topics, and led discussions with peers.
“Public speaking was really hard for me,” she says. “But Bay gave me so many chances to practice—in assemblies, Student Life Council, all of it. It was scary, but it got easier.”
By senior year, she was Bay’s graduation speaker. “I knew I could do it because I’d already done it—again and again, in a place that made it safe to try.”
That experience taught her that confidence isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you build through participation. And that lesson goes beyond the stage. “Bay taught me that learning isn’t about listening—it’s about engaging,” she says.
Culture as a Compass
As Katie steps into the world of college and business, one lesson from Bay shapes everything: culture matters. “It’s the number one thing I look for—in a club, a job, anything,” she says.
At Bay, culture wasn’t just something you joined—it was something you helped build. Every student was known, every teacher cared, and every classroom felt alive with curiosity. “All the teachers knew me,” Katie says. “Even the ones I never had would check in and cheer me on. Everyone was passionate about what they were teaching, and that made you want to learn.”
That sense of belonging—and the joy of learning alongside people who care—set a standard she now carries with her. “I remember having coffee with Gina, my college counselor, and she told me, ‘You only get one life. Choose what fits you, not what looks good on paper.’ That stuck with me.”
Now, as she considers internships and consulting work, Katie measures opportunities not just by prestige but by vibes. “Work culture and school culture are so important to me,” she says. “Bay showed me how much environment and community matter—when you belong somewhere and the energy is right, you do your best work.”
Gratitude and Growth
Katie still feels closely connected to the Bay community—her teachers, coaches, and mentors who continue to check in. “I texted my basketball coach recently, and he sent me a new workout plan,” she says. “Even now, people at Bay want to see me do well.”
That sense of care continues to guide her as she plans what’s next: studying abroad in Spain, learning Spanish, and continuing to build a career grounded in both skill and conscience.
“The value of a Bay education goes so far beyond the classroom,” she says. “What stayed with me weren’t the grades or the transcript—it was learning how to be all-in in whatever I do.”
