I am proud to be a Varsity Blue because:
I get to learn the art and science of medicine from world-class researchers and pioneers in the field, while living in one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world.
Give a little description of your background (where did you grow up, etc.).
I consider myself a “citizen of the world” and I have my parents to thank for that. I was raised in a town just south of Seoul. Soon after I started elementary school, my parents packed our bags and we moved to Poland, where I picked up English in a British school. At the time, life as a visible minority in Eastern Europe was tough (fantastic pierogies, though) but it taught me to develop a thick skin and hold my head up high as a Korean.
My family and I then immigrated to Canada, where I completed my undergraduate studies in health sciences at McMaster University. Then I moved to Baltimore for graduate studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Living on the American East Coast was a blast, and it was fascinating to discover the subtle sociocultural differences between the two North American neighbors. After brief stints in Switzerland and in West Africa, I returned to Toronto to start medical school in 2013.
Are there any organizations/clubs you are involved in? Tell us about what you’re up to!
Last summer, I was fortunate to get involved with a significant health policy work on HIV while interning at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. I’m happy to know that the related international guideline document that my team and I have been working on has just recently been published.
Here in Toronto, I’m widely involved with the education and advocacy aspects of global health. I took on some student leadership positions on the local and national level to educate my fellow medical students on relevant sub-topics like Aboriginal health and sexual health, and to connect them to some of the amazing academic and research opportunities.
I try to keep active by participating in running races in and around the city. Right now, I’m working on my endurance to prepare for my first full marathon next year. My goal is to qualify for Boston. Aside from running, I love playing squash and badminton with my pals.
What’s the best thing about your school?
I love that my medical school class is diverse in every way, including age, ethnicity, culture, and experience. I’m surrounded by some of the brightest minds and the most passionate souls in Canada, and everyday they motivate me to push harder and dream bigger. I have much to learn from them.
Your go-to food place:
In Toronto, my favourite restaurant has to be “Khao San Road”, which is located just minutes away from Chinatown. Its red curry — featuring some of the creamiest coconut milk and the juiciest chicken I’ve ever had — is just exquisite. And for those of you raised on kimchi, you will appreciate this: when you ask for “spicy” here, you most certainly will receive spicy.
What is your best student-budget recipe?
When in a pinch, I run to a grocer nearby to pick up whichever salmon is on sale. I throw it on a frying pan with broccoli, onion, carrots, and any other veggie that I can find in the fridge. When the inside turns medium-light pink and it starts to flake, I remove the salmon from heat and drizzle it with some olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme. I ain’t no Gordon Ramsey, but prepare some brown rice and pour yourself a glass of white wine and voila — you got yourself a perfect dinner.
Tell us about your favorite and least favorite classes.
I grew up listening to my mother’s classical collection, but I got instantly hooked on jazz after listening to a recording of The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “Take Five”. I took up saxophone and began playing in bands. During undergrad, I filled my elective space with music courses, and I loved every moment of it. It was awesome to finally provide my childhood melodies with some historical and theoretical context.
Do you have a worst roommate story? Let’s hear it.
I served in the Canadian military as a reservist for four years. During one of the training courses, one of my roommates in the barracks happened to be a young lad from a fishing village in the Canadian East Coast. He was also a voracious drinker. I discovered that when drunk, he had this horrible habit of getting up in the middle of the night and urinating in random places around the room, with no recollection of such events when he awoke in the morning. This made for interesting weekends that summer, to say the least.
Who has been an influential figure in your life?
My mother. Umma’s been a guiding figure in my life. She spoiled me to the bone yet at the same time she disciplined me to the core. She showed me there are more shades of life than merely black and white. She sowed the seed of love in me that make me grow each day. We haven’t always agreed on everything, but I know that Umma and Appa only have good intentions and have made a lot of sacrifices for the happiness and future of her three children.
If you could sum up your life as a student in three words, they would be…
“Just keep swimming”
Dory was absolutely right when she said these words in Finding Nemo. I first watched the film during high school, and this simple quote has remained close with me ever since. It helped me persevere and get through those occasional tough times in university. To me, this short phrase is a great reminder of what I should do when feeling overwhelmed or finding myself in an unknown territory.
Is there anywhere in the world where you’d want to study abroad? Where is it, and why?
Having already studied at Canadian and American universities, I would love for a chance to study across the pond. Some of the world’s most historic and prestigious academic institutions exist in the U.K., and it helps that they also speak English! And as an avid Francophile, I appreciate that London is only a stone’s throw away from Paris; I would regularly be visiting France to practise my French and indulge in their cuisine.
What was the hardest thing you’ve done so far?
One of the hardest things that I’ve done was also one of foolishness. While backpacking in Tokyo, I made an impromptu decision to climb Mt. Fuji. I love a new challenge, and I concluded that the climb was going to be the one that would define my trip to Japan. Had I done enough research, I would have known that proper hiking shoes and gear, warm clothes, a headlight, as well as plenty of snacks and water were essential.
Not knowing better, I started the evening trek wearing sunglasses, shorts, and a pair of trendy sneakers. Japan in August was quite humid and as a regular runner, I was confident in my ability to complete the 7 hour-long ascent. As the night fell, however, it became clear that I was underprepared for this endeavor.
The second half of the climb became considerably colder and windier, and the rocks rugged and steep. The steady stream of climbers thinned out, and eventually I found myself alone, freezing, hungry, and slightly hypoxic in a near-complete darkness. I was gripped in fear and seriously started to wonder whether I will make it through the night, let alone reach the top. I put on all the spare clothing and it took every bit of willpower to crawl my way to the summit base. The sunrise from the top of the mountain was magnificent as I had predicted, but clearly I had made the climb much more dramatic than it was.
(I later found out that every year, around half a dozen people perish while climbing Mt. Fuji. Lesson learned: never underestimate Mother Nature.)
What song is representative of your life right now?
“Take Off Your Cool” by Sartorial Sounds
It’s easy to become worn down by the rigors of medical training. There are endless exams and of course the responsibility of handling people’s lives, and there is a great pressure to do both well. Something that keeps me human and in the right frame of mind is my passion for the arts.
Indeed, I often turn to the arts–whether literature, music, photography, or theatre performances–to remind myself that, outside the four walls of the lecture hall or the hospital, there is still much beauty in the world. One of the songs that I visit again and again is this particular rendition of “Take Off Your Cool,” which is a fine fabric of poetry and music.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would have completed medical school and would be working and further honing my clinical skills as a resident physician. By that point, I hope to be happily married and living somewhere warm and sunny in North America.
What was the last book you read … for fun?
A good friend of mine lent me a copy of Murakami’s Norwegian Wood and it has been sitting on my shelf for months. (Sorry, Karen) I finally picked it up and brought it along with me when I went backpacking across Japan this past summer. It made for a good read on those long train rides. Next, I have my sight on a Hemingway.
If you had to evacuate your dorm/apartment/house immediately, what one item would you grab on the way out?
My laptop. It contains my life.
What’s your go-to selfie face?
I don’t have a designated selfie face, but I can tell you that my best selfies are made with friends because we get share the foolishness together.
Coffee, tea, energy drinks, “crazier stuff,” or nothing at all?
Green tea. I used to work as a barista at at local coffee shop during high school. I developed this terrible habit of drinking three to five cups of coffee a day, and it just became unsustainable. When I entered university, I vowed to not touch coffee again and I haven’t looked back since.
Who’s the person/people you can rely on for anything?
My two older sisters. It took me a long time but I’ve come to realize and appreciate that my two noonas would give anything for their baby bro. I’m grateful that I will always have these two ladies by my side. I can always count on them to lend me their time and ears.
If you would like to participate in KoreAm U’s Student Spotlight feature, you can find more information here. Alumni, we have something for you too!
