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Website Mission Membership Benefits

Mission
The mission of CSSA is bring everyone together by holding external and internal events that create opportunities for Chinese students and scholars as well as students from other country to meet each other and establish mutual-beneficial relationships. Our organization aims to provide a second home for international students from China and familiarize Chinese students with CMU as well as the Pittsburgh community. We are dedicating at being supportive and inclusive for all students, from undergraduates, doctoral students to visiting scholars at Carnegie Mellon University and people in our community. We also hope to show the beauty of Chinese traditional culture to the rest of CMU community through our events. For new students, we help them to adapt to the new social and academic environment via a series of orientation events. For old students, we assist them to keep connected to the community and find new encounters by organizing a variety of social and cultural events. In general, by participating in our activities that facilitate cultural adaptation and help bridge the cultural gap, Chinese students will blend into the community better. In addition, members of CSSA will improve their communication skills, build up problem-solving abilities, obtain supportive peer groups, and make lifelong friends through involvement in event design, planning, and implementation.

Membership Benefits
As a member of CMU CSSA, you're not just joining a student organization—you're becoming part of a vibrant, supportive, and ever-growing community. Our mission is to enrich the experience of Chinese students and scholars at Carnegie Mellon University, and we do that by providing a wide range of resources, events, and opportunities.

1. Exclusive Events & Cultural Celebrations
Members get access to all of our flagship events throughout the year, including Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese New Year Gala, CMU Voice (our signature singing competition), Game Nights, and seasonal outings including a member only fine dining formal dinner for free. These events are fun, festive, and help bring a sense of home and belonging.

2. Career Resources & Networking
We frequently collaborate with top companies to offer members-only career workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking sessions with alumni and professionals. Whether you're exploring internships or preparing for full-time offers, CSSA connects you with valuable insights and insider resources.

3. Internal Team Bonding & Leadership Opportunities
As a member of our internal team, you'll participate in regular team bonding activities—from karaoke nights and paintball to weekend dinners and board game parties. You'll also develop hands-on experience in project planning, event coordination, marketing, design, or communications depending on your department.

4. Mentorship & Community Support
New members will be matched with experienced mentors who can offer academic advice, career tips, and life guidance. Our CSSA Family system ensures you’ll always have someone to turn to, whether you're navigating Pittsburgh or just need someone to share a hotpot with.

5. A Platform to Explore Your Ideas
We value creativity and initiative. Have an idea for a cool event or new project? As a CSSA member, you’ll have the freedom and support to propose, plan, and execute your own ideas. We’re here to help you make things happen.

Everyone is welcome—whether you're looking to get involved, make new friends, or just see what we’re all about. No experience needed, just bring your curiosity and energy!

If you're interested in joining, feel free to email our president, Jesse Zhang, at xiqiaoz@andrew.cmu.edu. We’d love to hear from you and help you find your place in the CSSA family!