President and Co-Founder of Daehwa Korean Conversation Club

As a student of the Korean language, one of my goals is to share my knowledge with others in meaningful and educational interactions.

In 2014, I teamed up with two other Pitt students to create Daehwa Korean Conversation Club, which supports the efforts of the Korean Language Department to nurture interest in the Korean language, while creating a welcoming environment for all levels of Korean speakers to come and practice their conversational skills while learning about Korean culture. Most importantly, the club aims to create a community where native Korean speakers and Korean language learners can socialize and connect in a valuable way.

During my time as President of the club in the 2016-17 academic year, our membership doubled and our regular culture events reached a record number of students on campus.

Most importantly, by fostering a community of Korean language learners and speakers on campus, I was able to witness the improvements made by all members over the course of a year and guided a group of club officers who exhibit tremendous passion and yearning to see the organization continue to grow.

More information about Daehwa Korean Conversation Club can be found on their Facebook group.

For the past four years, I have been a volunteer with the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, which aims to educate the local community about Japanese culture, music, fashion, anime, gaming, and more through three yearly conventions and outreach events.

As Programming Manager, I lead a team of volunteers to ensure that all panels, workshops, and main events at our conventions run smoothly and on schedule. Our flagship event, Tekko, had over 8000 attendees in 2017 and featured over 500 hours of content programming which required significant planning and organization in the year leading up to the event.

In addition to leading the Programming department, I also fulfill the role of Assistant to the Board of Directors. My duties in this position include helping to develop the yearly strategic plan for the organization and creating information briefs based on data analysis of attendee demographic data, programming attendance data, and a variety of other data sets.

Outreach for local high school students

My study abroad experience in high school has had a lasting impact on my career goals, global perspective, and motivations.

I enjoy visiting local high schools and other programs to educate and inform students about the importance of learning about new cultures and languages. In these sessions, I aim to not only present information, but also encourage students to ask as many questions as possible about their interests and concerns in terms of language learning and study abroad. As an alumni of State Department Exchange Programs, I make an effort to visit schools with populations that are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad participation.

If you are interested in knowing more about my outreach for high school students, please see the contact page to get in touch with me.