The awards, recognition and prominence have racked up for Steffi Kong. The Converse College senior is set to graduate with a double major in psychology and biochemistry. Kong earned an athletic-academic scholarship to Converse, where she played tennis. She earned the Rookie of the Year Award, Valkyrie Award and she was named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll while a member of the Converse Tennis Team. Kong also made the Dean's List and is a member of a number of on-campus organizations. The tennis star is set to have a virtual commencement next Saturday, as Converse's in-person ceremony was postponed until August. "Its definitely disappointing, but I guess big picture, its better to be safe than sorry," Kong said. I feel the pain for everyone as a senior. Were missing out on our last seasons and graduation. There is so much more to it, the time we spent with teammates and faculty. Theres more to college than just walking across the stage.Kong will have to celebrate graduation without her family, who lives in Singapore. Kong first started coming to the United States when she was 10 to train for tennis. She looked up to multiple major winner and Hall of Famer Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis. Getting back home to Singapore is challenging for Kong, considering the restrictions put in place due to coronavirus. We have no idea whats going on with flights going out," Kong said. "We are currently trying to find me a flight to get back home from the U.S. to Singapore. The challenges mounted for Kong over the years. She has recovered from SARS, which she contracted when she was seven years old. Three years later, H1N1 landed her in the hospital.I remember I was coughing. I was coughing a lot," Kong said. "It was kind of weird that I got it, but my family members around me did not. I was in the hospital and I was just dead basically. Anything I ate just came right back out. I had no energy to do anything. Kong said the diseases compromised her immune system, but in dealing with coronavirus, she relies on resilience and good luck to pull her through.If it wants to take me, so be it," Kong said. "Most of the time, we just treat things based on what we see on the outside. We dont see whats really on the inside, or at least theres not much emphasis on that. In the meantime, Kong's advisor Dr. Marie LePage has taken in the star pupil during the coronavirus outbreak. I was a bit worried about isolation, students being on their own in the dorm and not having people to connect with because other students were going to go home," LePage said. "I was concerned about how that was going to affect her. LePage praised Kong for her passion, persistence and hard work. The two have spent quarantine going on hikes, walking LePage's dogs and watching shows like Tiger King. Kong plans to go to medical school after graduating and pursue psychiatry, having done research and presented her findings in Atlanta and other places. She said she will appreciate her degree and problem-solving the most from her college experience.

The awards, recognition and prominence have racked up for Steffi Kong. The Converse College senior is set to graduate with a double major in psychology and biochemistry.

Kong earned an athletic-academic scholarship to Converse, where she played tennis. She earned the Rookie of the Year Award, Valkyrie Award and she was named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll while a member of the Converse Tennis Team. Kong also made the Dean's List and is a member of a number of on-campus organizations.

The tennis star is set to have a virtual commencement next Saturday, as Converse's in-person ceremony was postponed until August.

"Its definitely disappointing, but I guess big picture, its better to be safe than sorry," Kong said. I feel the pain for everyone as a senior. Were missing out on our last seasons and graduation. There is so much more to it, the time we spent with teammates and faculty. Theres more to college than just walking across the stage.

Kong will have to celebrate graduation without her family, who lives in Singapore. Kong first started coming to the United States when she was 10 to train for tennis. She looked up to multiple major winner and Hall of Famer Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis.

Getting back home to Singapore is challenging for Kong, considering the restrictions put in place due to coronavirus.

We have no idea whats going on with flights going out," Kong said. "We are currently trying to find me a flight to get back home from the U.S. to Singapore.

The challenges mounted for Kong over the years. She has recovered from SARS, which she contracted when she was seven years old. Three years later, H1N1 landed her in the hospital.

I remember I was coughing. I was coughing a lot," Kong said. "It was kind of weird that I got it, but my family members around me did not. I was in the hospital and I was just dead basically. Anything I ate just came right back out. I had no energy to do anything.

Kong said the diseases compromised her immune system, but in dealing with coronavirus, she relies on resilience and good luck to pull her through.

If it wants to take me, so be it," Kong said. "Most of the time, we just treat things based on what we see on the outside. We dont see whats really on the inside, or at least theres not much emphasis on that.

In the meantime, Kong's advisor Dr. Marie LePage has taken in the star pupil during the coronavirus outbreak.

I was a bit worried about isolation, students being on their own in the dorm and not having people to connect with because other students were going to go home," LePage said. "I was concerned about how that was going to affect her.

LePage praised Kong for her passion, persistence and hard work. The two have spent quarantine going on hikes, walking LePage's dogs and watching shows like Tiger King.

Kong plans to go to medical school after graduating and pursue psychiatry, having done research and presented her findings in Atlanta and other places. She said she will appreciate her degree and problem-solving the most from her college experience.

Read the original post:
SARS, H1N1 survivor on coronavirus: "If it wants to take me, so be it" - WYFF4 Greenville