“The Odyssey Scholarship is what enables me to be an academic risk taker and I can't be more grateful for the opportunities that it provides me with.”
How did your summer experiences clarify your career or academic interests?
My research position at the Yonsei University Political Science Department allowed me to narrow down my interests by exposing me to various topics and arguments within the field. Although the specific research I was assisting with was on the topic of sports diplomacy and the politics behind mass sporting events such as the Olympics, it required research on larger themes such as environmental policy, international relations, local politics, theoretical argumentation, and quantitative argumentation. While reading a wide range of texts, it became clear to me which disciplines or topics most interested me, and I naturally found myself more rigorously researching for a certain topic than others. My experience also revealed to me some other aspects of academia, such as attending national and global events on the topic, and meeting other professors within the field, which made this career more attractive to me and helped me think about a career in academia in a more serious manner.
What professor or course has had the greatest impact on you, and why? How are you identifying your academic passions?
So far in my UChicago career, my Economics of Public Policy professor, Kerwin Charles, has had the greatest impact on me. This course was my first course for my public policy major, and I was concerned that economics would feel like a class I simply had to get through to reach the more interesting topics. However, Professor Charles utilized most of his lecture time to providing examples of major policy implementations that exemplify the theory that we were learning in class. This not only allowed me to explore what kind of specialization I would like to pursue, but also made the economic theories more relatable and valuable to me. With the plethora of examples in my head, I am able to apply these theories to other courses I am taking.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus is probably the lobby of the Booth School of Business. There is plenty of natural light due to the glass windows, which is very nice after taking classes in some of the older buildings where it can feel cluttered and dark. There are also a lot Booth students dressed in business casual clothes walking around, and their professionalism inspires me to work harder on my assignments! Considering it's a lounge space, the atmosphere is not too sterile or quiet, which distracts me from easily getting frustrated with my work. Overall, it is a professional yet positive space that allows me to be very productive!
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
The Odyssey Scholarship means a lot to me because it allows me to ambitiously take chances and opportunities without the burden of monetary concerns. It feels like UChicago is in full support of my pursuits and prioritizes my ambitions, which is a great feeling to have within such a large academic institution. As a US citizen who also lived in Korea for a long period of time, this scholarship allows me to explore opportunities in the US while still having the means to go back to Korea to visit my family, which means a great deal to me and my quality of life on campus. Overall, the Odyssey Scholarship is what enables me to be an academic risk taker and I can't be more grateful for the opportunities that it provides me with.
