What is the most challenging thing as a college student?

Time management. Academically, managing your time to study and finding time to invest your time for your friends. And also, taking time for yourself–like eating, sleeping, and etc. If you can manage your time and take care of the components of your life, your college life will be hard, but enjoyable. Also, especially in college, you are trying to find yourself so there is a lot of other things to spend time on–things outside of your academic life. If you spend too much time on one things or searching for things, you won’t have time for other stuff on a deeper level.

What are some ways that you study?

I don’t study. It depends on the class. I have a lot of science classes and for those, I re-watch the lectures and add to my lecture notes. I try to re-write my lectures from memory. And before the class, I would try to read the powerpoint. If I have a willing classmate then I talk to them about it. I usually discuss the topics to myself, and I will check my notes to see if my memory is there. For humanities, we just have readings and essays. There aren’t “exams,” so I do the readings. If I don’t understand the readings, then I try to talk to someone about. For essays, I try to revise them a lot and get the professor’s feedback. I try to give myself a lot of deadlines as much as possible–so I won’t procrastinate. I try to make it as well-written as possible at first so when I go back to edit, I won’t have too much to do. Sometimes, I have video projects. That depends on teamwork–and we wait until the last three days, usually. We are yelling at each other trying to finish the work, but we work hard.

How do you know that you are studying efficiently?

I am not studying efficiently. But, I know that I am not when I find out that I haven’t gone far after one or two hours. Also, when I find myself laughing and talking with my friends when studying for many minutes.

Do you think studying is hard?

I think active learning and active focusing is hard. But, it depends on the classes. For chemistry, it was really hard due to its concept, whereas biology was more straightforward. Sometimes, essays are really hard. Learning is easy, but focusing is hard.

What makes a good professor?

For me, someone who cares about their students. Really treating and thinking them as persons not just a student in their class. Someone who tries to develop a person-relationship. Also, they know their stuff very well and also knows how to explain them in different ways. Flexible professors. And, professors who like their students. Like when students ask them questions, they are not annoyed by it but willing to help outside of lecture hours.

What was the best class that you have had so far?

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Women and Gender Studies’ “Sexing Korea” with Professor Jung Ja Choi. It had so much fun in it. I learned a lot, too. It made me look at my life differently. The way we analyzed in the class made me analyze my own life in that way. The professor tried to connect with us. She taught it in a socratic method. If we have a class discussion or debate –she would guide us and we would talk to each other about it–like sharing our knowledge together. So my critical and analytical thinking developed.

What is your advice to a college freshman?

Don’t take everything too seriously. Don’t be hard on yourself. Be responsible. College is not perfect and things will get crazy. As long as you have some direction towards a reasonable future, you will be fine.

What is it about college that is different from other levels of education?

The lack of restraints in college. In high school, the classes you take are very “pre-set.” You were suppose to take the best AP or IB classes. But in college, there are basic classes but you really get to choose your interest and the classes that you want. In high school, you are expected to be a good student under social norms and your parents’ expectations. But in college, you are still expected to be a good student but in your own way. Before, you are in a box of hard clay but in college, you are in a box of sand–you can create whatever you want.

If you were a professor, what would you want your students to learn?

I would be a biology or neuroscience professor, which is very abstract and removed from real life–making it boring and potentially unmeaningful. So, I want students to know the importance of those subjects that you learn.

What is the biggest problem that you see among American colleges and universities (higher education)?

Student debt.

What makes you happy?

Being authentic with myself. Who I am and not trying to change myself for something I am not. And doing my best–giving it all in what I do.