In my last year at Grinnell, I hope to take advantage of all of the opportunities I have left. I am very excited for what’s next!

Career-wise, I know that my career adviser — Sarah Barks, the technology and data career community director — and I will figure it out together. I’ve met with Sarah over the summer to brainstorm how I can apply the skills I’ve built up at Grinnell to a future career. I’ve loved doing Stata analysis in my classes and I am confident that I can turn this into a career.

After graduation, I will be pursuing a master's degree in city and regional planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This summer, I am working as a summer community engagement coordinator at the Carolina Center for Public Service.

I am confident that the flexibility and adaptability I’ve developed at Grinnell will serve me well, and I am grateful for all the opportunities that Grinnell has provided.

I am now a community support specialist at Thresholds, which is an organization that offers services to people living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The position has been amazing. I know that the things I’ve learned at Grinnell will stay with me forever.

Currently, I am a research patient coordinator at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), which is the largest medical center in the world. In this role, I recruit and assess both acute and chronic stroke patients at hospitals within the Texas Medical Center and collaborate with a speech-language pathologist.

On a day-to-day basis, I administer cognitive examinations, conduct MRI scans, and analyze behavioral and neuro-imaging data. I hope to continue working as a patient coordinator for a few years before pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology.

There are many opportunities that would not have been available to me if I had not attended Grinnell. From building soft skills such as writing and communication to providing research opportunities both inside and outside of classes that enhanced my technical skills, Grinnell prepared me extensively for this position. I will always cherish the Grinnell professors and staff for their dedication to providing me with such an enriching education.

Passions and Possible Paths

I’m interested in pursuing a career working to reduce racism in health care and obstetrics, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with all that. My internship at the Redleaf Clinic showed me one possible path I could follow.

There’s also a public health program at the University of Minnesota that focuses on mothers and infants and maternal health care. I’m very passionate about that.

Making It Real

I have some appointments with CLS (Careers, Life, and Service) scheduled to help me sort it all out, and I’ve spoken to some of my professors about possible opportunities. Just taking that first step of making those appointments, I think, is going to be helpful going forward.

The professors truly care about my success, and the open curriculum allowed me to create my own path and discover what major was best for me. I know they’re going to be there for me this year, and I want to be able to continue that connection even after I graduate.

I am now the housing program assistant at the Iowa City Housing Authority! I'm really excited to be working in a field I am so passionate about.

Throughout my time at Grinnell, I had a lot of great experiences. I conducted two research projects, traveled abroad, and engaged in deep, rigorous studies. I know this will serve me well in my professional life, and I will definitely cherish the time I had at Grinnell.

I’m dipping my toes in a lot of new things. I’ve been picking up some new hobbies in fiber arts and music — I’ve really enjoyed my harp lessons this semester! 

​After graduating, I’m interested in pursuing a career in education, either in a formal classroom setting or an education administrative program. I just want to be a part of a community that helps students learn and grow. 

​I love to travel and expand my understanding of the world by engaging in different cultures. I am currently getting my Teaching English as a Foreign Language License 9 (TEFL), which was partially subsidized by our career advising office. I am open to going anyone, but being Peruvian-American, I was thinking about spending more time in Peru, or maybe returning to Korea, where I studied abroad. 

​I enjoyed my college experience quite a bit. I was worried that with Covid there would be a large absence of community, but Grinnellians surprised me with how much and how deeply they wanted to connect with me. My second year, I learned how to engage even more deeply with other students. My third year, I connected a lot more with professors, faculty, and staff. My senior year, I feel like I’m a true member of the College and town community, frequently visiting small businesses, including thrift stores and coffee shops, and being so involved in the local schools. 

Before beginning my Ph.D. program in chemistry at the University of Michigan, I spent the summer backpacking through Spain and completed a 500-mile pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago. 

For students hoping to pursue a Ph.D. or medical school after Grinnell, please know that Grinnell's Chemistry Department is exceptionally strong and prepares you well. Not only did I develop the required research and academic skills, but I also developed the confidence and communication skills to excel in a Ph.D. program. I am very grateful for the many opportunities Grinnell offered to me.

Eventually, I hope to teach and conduct research at a small liberal arts college, as well as continue backpacking across the world.