MY STORY

The name “Suzie” is pretty common in the U.S. with a weird spelling (my parents wanted it to be “unique”). But it’s also a common name in Korea (수지 which is pronounced as Suzie). The Chinese characters that spell out my Korean name (秀志) can be understood as “having a great purpose in life.” 

 

Although I’m still not of age to reflect on my life and say it had a “great” purpose, I have always seemed to find and follow a purpose or a vision. I was born in Denton, Texas, but my family quickly moved to South Korea when I was 1. So, I had no memory of the U.S. until I turned 9 when I attended an elementary school in California because my father thought it was finally time for me to get to know more about the hidden part of my identity. When I came back to Korea after a year, I knew I wanted to continue getting more international education and expanding my intellectual and personal horizons. Hence, I applied and attended an international school in Korea and, later, Duke University.

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Particularly, I pursued a combination of an International Comparative Studies (ICS) major, a Political Science minor, and an Innovation & Entrepreneurship certificate. These interests together support my greatest passion: innovation for social impact. Social impact is not a "one size fits all" "solution." Local communities are often not the ones in "need" but powerful change agents who, with appropriate resources, can bring substantial change to the country, region, and around the world. Recognizing this often neglected opportunity, I hope to empower and support local innovation and entrepreneurship to build an inclusive and sustainable international development scene.

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Besides pursuing this passion, I also spend my time as a flutist, exploring all musical genres from French Romantic to jazz. Indoor climbing is also my hobby as I allow my brain to solve challenging problems in a stress-free and healthy environment. Lastly, experimental cooking for my friends is one of my favorite things to do after a long week.