Freshman foilist Tit Nam Cheng was offered a fencing scholarship to Penn State the day before he won the Cadet World Championship in 2022. After recently relocating to central Pennsylvania in August of 2023, coming from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, Cheng considers his overall adjustment to be smooth sailing so far.
Cheng is a member of the Hong Kong Junior National Team, having joined as a cadet in 2017. His one and only visit to the United States before enrolling at Penn State was for the national team's trip to New York City last year.
Being accustomed to a fast-paced, stressful environment in Hong Kong, Cheng appreciates the opportunity to get to adapt to a slower environment at Penn State, even if that means being in the middle of nowhere and getting lost on campus all the time.
"At home, I couldn't train every day because of school. Now, I can schedule my own classes and walk right across the street from my dorm and be at practice" Cheng said.
Cheng experienced a very different team dynamic back home in Hong Kong, "It's like a family here, and I've never experienced such a thing. In Hong Kong, it's all professional. So, I think I fit more here. Everyone treats me like their little brother. I feel so attached to the fencing team, we have a big team and it's always loving and caring and comforting. They support me in my bouts when I'm doing well and maybe when I'm having a bad time."
Cheng's biggest surprise since arriving on campus has been the cold weather. He only packed a light jacket with sweatpants and was not prepared for the "extreme weather conditions" that the months of November and December have brought. "Arwen (Borowiak) told me it would be cold, but I never thought it would be this cold! I have never seen snow before either."
Ultimately, studying and fencing in the United States has always been a dream. As an international student, this comes with a higher cost, "It's really hard for me because I get homesick. I miss my family so much, but these are the sacrifices I need to make to come here and get a degree and fence better" Cheng said.
So far, he is adapting well, loving his teammates, working well with the coaches and succeeding in school. Tit Nam Cheng hopes to take baby steps in his success here, starting with qualifying for regionals and moving on to being an All-American or placing top four at the NCAA Championships.
