- Hometown: Queens, NY
- Majors: Economics, Political Science / International Relations
- Organizations & Activities: I am a proud member of TRIO, the treasurer for 1GEN, the president of the Econ-BIPOC Club (CEBA), and I also work on communications for the Korean Student Association (KSA). Outside of student activities, I am a part of a research team led by Professor Barbara Allen and Professor Dan Stevens, where I analyze broadcast election news stories. I also work at the Off-Campus Studies Office (OCS) as a student advisor and I have just begun working as a museum assistant at the Perlman Teaching Museum!
- More about me: On campus, I like spending time at the OCS office, where I’m surrounded by maps, globes, and a wonderful team. When time permits, I enjoy making a good tiramisu, finding new fungi in the Arb, and drawing comic strips at Blue Monday. If you are interested in competing in a typing test, please reach out!
What made you decide to attend Carleton?
I was looking for a smaller school in an interesting place, and Carleton was exactly that. While applying for colleges, I fell into a rabbit hole of liberal arts colleges, and Carleton spoke to me. A major reason for that was the long list of study abroad programs. The opportunity to travel the world felt very accessible, both financially and in terms of earning academic credit. It was important for me to incorporate study abroad programs into my education, especially as someone who has never traveled outside the U.S. before.
What is your advice for incoming first-gen Carls?
Inquire about opportunities! Reach out to professors, classmates, and faculty if you want to learn more about your career path, research, majors, and more. Office hours are a great way to connect with your professors and instructors, and there will always be at least one person who can help you navigate your life as an undergraduate student. The people at Carleton teach me something new every day.
What does it mean for you to be the first in your family to attend college?
Growing up, I saw how much my parents loved to learn. Even now, as a college student, I watch them discover new things every day, whether it is a new word in English or in their native language. I’ve come to understand that learning goes beyond school and textbooks.
Being first-generation taught me that learning is a lifelong process, which is something that doesn’t stop when formal education begins or ends. Higher education can be daunting, but I’ve inherited the same sense of curiosity that drives my parents. As I near the end of my undergraduate journey, I feel grateful to be in a space where I can nurture that curiosity through my studies. Being a first-generation student means learning alongside my family, and learning more about what we can do, rather than what we can’t do.