Jessica
Hi!!
My name is Jessica, and I’m from Seoul, South Korea! My friends from college call me Chae because my Korean name is Chaewon, so feel free to call me whichever name you like! I’m 20 years old now, but I’ll be turning 21 in July (at camp)! This is my first time being a part of the Camp Augusta family, so I’m so excited to meet you all!! (I hope you are too!)
Snippets!!
I’m currently studying Biology and Psychology at Beloit College, a tiny liberal arts school in Wisconsin. We’re so close to the Wisconsin-Illinois border that you can literally walk to Illinois. When I was applying to colleges, I wanted to study animal behavior and neuroscience, and although Beloit didn’t have those options, I still chose to come here because I fell in love with their tight-knit community (just like Augusta!). And not long ago, I chose to double major in Biology and Psychology so that I can continue studying in my area of passion.
Favorites!!
My absolute favorite thing to do is hangout with my friends. I have the most fun when I’m with the people I love, and that includes my family, my friends from home, and my friends from college.
Some of my favorite things to do when I’m with my friends from home are going out for lunch and dinner, going on road trips, and having sleepovers! Although we’re all in our 20s now, we still hangout like we’re in high school.
When I’m with my friends from college, we like to get breakfast together, have fun study sessions, and go out on the weekends! I love every single friend that I met in college, because they are the ones that helped me become stronger in these past few years.
My family is my proudest trait. I grew up with two amazing, loving parents, and two somewhat supportive but incredibly annoying older brothers. While my parents taught me to follow rules, behave, and to make smart choices, my brothers taught me to be competitive, to take control, scream, and most importantly, sprint—the key component to survival. I learned a lot of things growing up, but my brothers were the ones that made “learning” fun and entertaining. I hope that I can be like a sibling-figure to you all, and fill every day with excitement!
Passions!!
My favorite sport of all time is volleyball. I started playing volleyball when I was 13 years old, and in my senior year, I was captain of the girls Varsity volleyball team. I was the libero, diving for every ball that was thrown in my face. I was hesitant about joining the volleyball team in college though, because being a student-athlete is a pretty tough job. But I hope that one day, I’ll be able to embrace that challenge and join the team as their libero!
Another thing about me is that I love volunteering. I’ve been volunteering since I was in middle school, and I’ve been to Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Myanmar! Helping others has always been a deep passion of mine, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop searching for opportunities.
Last summer, I was an English Essay Mentor for middle school students at a Korean Academy Camp. Over the course of 3 weeks, I taught 45 Korean students how to read and write structured essays in English. It was honestly the best 3 weeks of my life. I was exhausted from grading papers, creating tests, and moving around, but not once did I even think about wanting to leave. It was like one of those moments when happiness takes over your tiredness. I loved when my students looked at me with curiosity gleaming in their eyes, and when their hands were raised and flapping all over the place with questions.
Camp mindset!!
My greatest passion is teaching children and allowing them to realize that “learning” is not just about memorizing and studying for exams, but rather gaining knowledge in areas that they are curious and eager about. Learning something means taking a concept and making it your own, and when it’s something you’re not good at or you think you’re bad at, it might come to you as a challenge. But a challenge you’ll eventually overcome. And when it’s something you’re willing to give your everything, that’s when the sparks fly.
I want to be the person that helps children overcome their challenges. I’ve had to face many barriers in my life, and for most of them, I was by myself. Sometimes that can make people stronger, but it’s always hard to take the first step. So I’ll be there for you to take your first step!
Fun Facts!!
I LOVE sunsets, the beach, and food!! (anything noodle related you will not get a share)
My family adopted our dog (Bichon Frisé) 4 years ago and he is so poofy that you can throw a snack at his head and it’ll just sit there.
I can ride a unicycle!
I love taking photos. (I’m the photographer friend)
My best friend from college is from Mexico and we met 2 years ago, yet we are literally the same person.
I LOVE driving. (I’m also the driver friend with 248843 passenger princesses)
BIG Swiftie here.
You can figure out the rest when we meet! Can’t wait!!
