Chen-Ying Chien, known as Ethel to those who knew her, will be remembered as an independent and brave traveler by her friends.

Chien, 20, a first year Penn State international student from Taipei, Taiwan, died March 7 when her vehicle struck a concrete barrier on the Florida Turnpike.

She was vacationing in Florida for spring break with a group of friends and was traveling to Miami when the accident occurred.

Nae-Yun Chen (freshman-business), known as Alice, and Chien's roommate on the International Language House (ILH) floor in Beaver Hall, was also from Taipei.

"She's really independent, very considerate and very mature," she said. "Ethel was pretty outgoing, she was full of dreams."

Chen said that she and a group of friends traveled with Chien to Orlando, Fla., for spring break, to visit area amusement parks, and learned about the accident early in the day.

"She was going to drive to Miami and come back and meet us," Chen said. "It was shocking ... we were making phone calls to confirm the news. Everyone was really upset."

Ren-Kuan Kuo (freshman-business administration), known as Jeremy, a friend who also went to Florida with Chien, said she had been excited to visit Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

"She really wanted to go to Magic Kingdom, but she never got a chance to," he said.

Belinda Cheng (freshman-business), another friend who traveled to Florida with Chien, said she remembered her as curious and independent.

"At times, she would go on her own ... she told us about how she'd travel around and sight-see," she said. "She was carefree, not scared. She was brave in a different kind of way."

Chen said Chien loved to travel, adding that Chien had traveled to New York between the summer and fall semesters by herself.

"She was planning a trip to California in the summer on her own," Chen said. "We planned a trip around when we went back to Taiwan."

Cheng said Chien enjoyed learning about different cultures and understanding their differences.

"She was interested in European movies, Spanish and French ones," she said. "She was really interested in learning about other countries."

Kuo said Chien enjoyed doing activities with her friends despite her independence.

"She really liked to go skiing and snowboarding," he said. "We went a couple of times together ... to Tussey Mountain."

Crystal Gonzalez (freshman-liberal arts), who lived on the ILH floor with Chien, said they would occasionally help each other study.

"She used to help me with my Chinese and I'd help her with her Spanish homework," she said. "It was a lot of fun times ... she was an easygoing person."

Jai Hokimi (senior-marketing), Chien's resident assistant in Beaver Hall, said she was interested in programs to "enhance diversity and international understanding."

"She was a perfect fit for the floor, being active on programs and giving ideas," Hokimi said. "Her presence will definitely be missed on the floor."