With References to Jung H. Kim...

Growing up in an Asian family can teach anyone a lot about life, like leaving a grain of rice in a bowl being a sin. Studying until midnight is for amateurs and asking a math problem can easily mature into a three hour lecture. It’s a world where best isn’t the best, and being second is no better than any other place. This is the world I was made and manufactured in.

Best isn’t the best. It’s that and just that. Obtaining straight A’s during all of Grade school, even though I was fresh off the boat, was something I think of as a great wonder. I have attended over fourteen different elementary schools in over five different countries, having to switch between two different languages. We traveled back and forth from South Korea to the United States where I was born, South Africa, New Zealand, and Canada. It was done and for the reward, I was given an award for outstanding achievement by the President of the United States, Bill Clinton. Sounds good. Never good enough. School isn’t the major worry of my parents as I was raised. As if it was a separate religion itself, I was made to be faithful and obedient to the religion of SATs and ACTs. One may complain and rant about the storm of three presentations they have to push through and the tests they have to take shelter from. Yet, what they don’t realize is that they still have the clothes on their backs and their family encouraging them on.

It’s not that my parents don’t encourage me. The fact is that my parents will encourage me crawl closer and closer to the center of the hurricane, no matter the consequences and they will crack the whip. While many will take shelter and demand the gods to have mercy, I cannot for the gods themselves do not wish to destroy the enemy. Rather, they would rather have me face them head on. I tried my best to be the best, but I may never get to where my parents want me, but I know like they do, that if you’re not on top, you’ll quickly fall behind just like the hare victimized by the tortoise. This is my fuel and this is my passion that drives me to keep pushing myself harder and harder.

During the years of 2005-2006, my father was hospitalized due to a growth in both his large and small intestines. He stayed in and out of the hospital for approximately for a year, but the three surgeries requiring the removal of nearly all of his intestines put a lot of pressure and difficulties on the family including spiritual and financial burdens. My father hasn't been able to make any or very little income in the past three years and my mother had to work non-stop for the past three years and with me chipping in whenever I could. I thought it wasn't really fair and all those seemly childish behaviors until I realized how much of an arrogant idiot I was. I realized that so many people helped us out and I really was just caring for myself.

In 2007, I started to volunteer at the exact same municipal hospital where those doctors and nurses labored and tolerated the tedious stressful job just to save a stranger. At first, I was still greedy. I thought it would look good on a university application while I recovered my karma at the same time. Yet, the longer I volunteered, even though sometimes it's worse than a paid job, I loved every moment of it. It's not the fact that I'm volunteering and doing the greater good, but rather, I felt awesome doing it. I met so many other people who had the same interests, same hobbies, and same mind sets I've never seen anywhere else. Most people never notice the hospital volunteers, but I don't care because I know that I learned something.

For these reasons, I have tried my best to pursue and conquer the best education those were available to me. As residing in Canada, I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire admittance in a French Immersion program. The French Immersion program starts from junior high school where all the subjects except for English and electives are taught in French and by the graduation of high school, one is expected to speak the language fluently. This I believed would be the ultimate challenge for me since I have learned and relearned English and Korean numerous times while my family traveled back and forth from an English speaking country to South Korea. In result, I have not been able to take as many IB or AP courses as I wished, but I was able to learn and conquer what everyone else had to study in two different languages, while still holding on to a third. With that, I believe I have taken the road less traveled which would lead me to better opportunities in future education.

Currently, I am a senior engineering student pursing my bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering along with minors in Manufacturing and in Economics at the Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I hold a TA position with the First Year Engineering Course (ENGR 195/131/132). I am also a personal trainer with the Purdue University sharing my passion of health and drive. Although my primary interest since at a young age was in architecture, I decided to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering for the sole purpose of diversifying my learning along with my career opportunities. That being said, since I started my university career, I found out that my passion was actually in manfucaturing and design. I am a heavily active member at the university, being involved in EPOD (Electric Purdue On Demand) as a manufacturing team member. EPOD is an autonomous two to four man electric vehicle that is due to replace majority of the bus systems around campus that will be unveiled at the 2012 Super Bowl. I have more than four years of CAD experience, with my roots starting in high school with CADKEY and taking a course at Purdue University with CATIA, and finally taking a very on-hands class with Solidworks and Camworks. I am also a dedicated member of ASME, competing in Rube Goldberg and sponsoring much philanthropy. I am also the current Brotherhood Chariman, past Parliamentarian and Scholarship Chairman, former Risk Management officer of Kappa Alpha Order taking the responsibility of the safety of a thirty man chapter fraternity.

How I was able to achieve the above prestige and positions? By trying to be The Best, above my best. There are so many times when one says "I've done my best" and leaves it be. Yet, there are just as many times if we're not The Best, we're not going to get what we need.

I look forward to a position in a professional environment where I can maximize my management experience, further develop my problem solving skills, take on pressure and high expectations, and test my dedication.

In order to accomplish my vision and career goal, I know that I must strive harder than before to come out on top again and again. One of the most important issues engineers face is with stream lining and efficiency. Though there is always an on-going discussion in politics, companies, and organizations on what to do with the policies and strategies, with my experience as a health administrator and my degree as a mechanical engineer, I can provide easier choices for the policy makers. Not only is my future at stake, but the stake of the global world is on the line. If I want the best for myself, I believe it is only fair that I can provide my best for the world.