You are what makes Creighton extraordinary

Dear alumni, parents and friends of Creighton,

My name is Leilani Hung, and I’m a sophomore at Creighton. As I finish my semester and prepare to head home for the holidays, I wanted to say Merry Christmas and to thank you for everything you do for Creighton.

Let me tell you what your love and support of Creighton has meant to me.

I'm from Los Angeles, but I first heard about Creighton from family members who live in the small town of Wakefield, Nebraska. Growing up, we’d visit Wakefield often, and I remember learning about this amazing Jesuit, Catholic university in Omaha.

Somewhere along the way, Creighton became both my dream school and my path to pursuing my passion: Advocating for people who can’t advocate for themselves.

This passion started in middle school, when I saw how well health professionals took care of my mother after she was diagnosed with cancer.

I watched them, and I knew I wanted to be that kind of person, someone who was there to help people during their darkest moments.

But when I first came to Creighton, my dreams crashed up against a few harsh realities. I felt isolated, and I struggled in class.

I started to question if I’d made the right choice. I wondered if I belonged here. But when I finally swallowed my pride and reached out for help, someone was there. Many people were. My wonderful friends and professors, of course, but also those working in services like the Creighton Intercultural Center and Student Support Services. I received tutoring and therapy.

I picked myself back up, but only with the help of others.

You know the reason Creighton is such a special place is that it's home to so many special people. I’m not sure I would have found this level of care at other universities, and it’s made me want to be the kind of person who defines Creighton.

I give back any way I can. I’m an English tutor for immigrants in South Omaha. I’m a mentor for first-generation students at my high school.

Last Christmas break, I sat with elderly COVID patients in their final hours. One woman held my hand and told me I should never give up on my dreams because I have the right kind of love in my heart to care for others.

My parents raised me with this value: If you have enough to feed your table, feed the table next to you, too.

I try to do that every day, with everyone in need, and I’m truly grateful to go to a school with a community so dedicated to the mission, to the services and to the people who make this place so extraordinary.

My Creighton experience is what it is because of your support. And with Christmas around the corner, I hope you’ll consider making a gift to Creighton. You can support any cause — scholarships, student programs, your school or college, whatever means the most to you.

Whatever you support, you’ll be making a world of difference for at least one student like me.

Merry Christmas,

Leilani Hung

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