06/10/2026
Humans of SOA: Ady Lam is a junior studying Cognitive Science and Environmental Policy with minors in Data Science and Business Institutions. Originally from Hong Kong, Ady is the incoming president of NU Thrift, a student organization dedicated to promoting sustainability and making clothing more accessible to Northwestern students.
Ady’s involvement with NU Thrift actually began before she arrived on campus. “I was really interested in thrifting and promoting sustainability in terms of the fashion industry because I know that it can be super polluting and uses a lot of resources,” she shared. After organizing a thrift pop-up at her high school and writing about NU Thrift in her “Why Northwestern” essay, joining the organization during her first year felt like a natural fit.
As a first-year student, Ady volunteered at thrift pop-up events, helping organize clothing and collect payments. Over the past two years, she has taken on a larger leadership role, helping with outreach, meeting logistics, and organizational planning. Now, as incoming president, she is excited to help NU Thrift continue expanding its impact.
For Ady, the organization’s mission extends beyond fashion. “A lot of people will go through a lot of pieces of clothing because there are a lot of trends that don’t stick around for very long,” she explained. “It’s always helpful to be able to redistribute that clothing to people who will give it a second life.” By keeping prices low and dedicating the first hour of each pop-up to first-generation and lower-income students, NU Thrift works to make sustainable shopping accessible to everyone.
Looking ahead, Ady hopes to grow NU Thrift’s visibility across campus through stronger marketing and outreach efforts. She also envisions expanding beyond clothing to collect and redistribute other items, creating a more holistic thrift store experience for students.
Thank you, Ady, for sharing your story! Interested in joining NU Thrift? Check out their page on ‘Cats on Campus!
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Interested in sharing your involvement story with the Northwestern community? Stay tuned for how to be featured by Humans of SOA in the fall quarter!