To ask 'how do you know what major to study?' is like asking 'how do you know which one to marry?' You just know, and sometimes, it can be as simple as that and that's all you need. My interest in the field of business wasn't some thought-out process that eventually led me to an epiphany that this path was the direction to my life. It was more like I just knew, similar to how I know I hate watermelons but love figs. My natural curiosity towards business-related areas, however, have led me to experiences that have confirmed my desire to study and commit my plans for career to this field.
Jotting my name on the Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda member recruitment list on club fair day as an entering freshman in high school turned out to be one of the best choices I've made in my high school career. My dedication for the club exponentially grew as I became more involved and was reflected when I was elected the historian, the secretary, and the vice president during my sophomore, junior, and senior years respectively. FBLA-PBL is a national premier business education association consisting of a quarter million high school and middle school students, college and university students, faculty, educators, administrators, and business professionals to prepare for careers in business. Being Georgia's largest high school club with over 300 students, Northview High School's FBLA-PBL, however, is more than just a simple club; it serves to create paths in which students can immerse themselves in the business world by offering internships at local financial management groups, inviting guest speakers of different business areas, and best of all, participating in business competitions held state and nation wide with over sixty different areas of competitions. I took this opportunity to compensate for my lack of business courses in high school by studying independently through FBLA competition preparations in the areas of Business Math; Computer Applications; Management Decision Marketing; and Business Calculations & Business Math. Competing against students who were specially placed on business track, selecting courses only related to business, was tough, but my personal endeavors was rewarded with a first place in the first three categories and second place in the latter. This was only the beginning to my introduction to the field of business; my ever-increasing scope and interest through my accomplishments opened another door of opportunity.
In the summer of 2009, I took a deeper dive into the business realm. I was introduced to a prestigious all-expense paid CNN experience program in which over 1,000 applicants from the Southern region of America applied and were interviewed to be one of the selected 100 students to spend a week at Georgia Tech, attending marketing and business management seminars, communication workshops, and dinner formals with CNN executives, directors, producers, and anchors. At the end of the week, CNN selected five from the 100 students to intern in five different departments of CNN. I was selected to intern under the Digital Marketing and On-Air Promotion Department under Mr. Scot Safon, the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of CNN Worldwide. The opportunity to study the complex marketing techniques utilized by CNN to air a headline story on television with greater viewing feedback was fascinating. I conducted viewer response calculations and attended strategic planning meetings to tactically select and design appropriate stories, headline titles, commercials, and print billboard advertisements. Selected as one of the five Asian minorities, I had a valuable glimpse at the business composition and structure in the function of hierarchy, priority, and technicality of the American business system in the area of communication broadcast system.
My past experiences, although minor, have provided certainty that my greatest interest lies in the field of business, and I am sure my inclination will self-motivate me to excel in this area. I know my previous ventures and achievements have brought me a step closer to becoming a real future business leader of America. I also know that this is only the beginning of my journey that I will continue to climb to, one day, become not only a business leader of America but also of Korea. I will only continue to achieve the best and not settle for mediocrity, especially with the educational support I anticipate to receive from Seoul National University to further my experiences and prepare me for the global business world.
Jotting my name on the Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda member recruitment list on club fair day as an entering freshman in high school turned out to be one of the best choices I've made in my high school career. My dedication for the club exponentially grew as I became more involved and was reflected when I was elected the historian, the secretary, and the vice president during my sophomore, junior, and senior years respectively. FBLA-PBL is a national premier business education association consisting of a quarter million high school and middle school students, college and university students, faculty, educators, administrators, and business professionals to prepare for careers in business. Being Georgia's largest high school club with over 300 students, Northview High School's FBLA-PBL, however, is more than just a simple club; it serves to create paths in which students can immerse themselves in the business world by offering internships at local financial management groups, inviting guest speakers of different business areas, and best of all, participating in business competitions held state and nation wide with over sixty different areas of competitions. I took this opportunity to compensate for my lack of business courses in high school by studying independently through FBLA competition preparations in the areas of Business Math; Computer Applications; Management Decision Marketing; and Business Calculations & Business Math. Competing against students who were specially placed on business track, selecting courses only related to business, was tough, but my personal endeavors was rewarded with a first place in the first three categories and second place in the latter. This was only the beginning to my introduction to the field of business; my ever-increasing scope and interest through my accomplishments opened another door of opportunity.
In the summer of 2009, I took a deeper dive into the business realm. I was introduced to a prestigious all-expense paid CNN experience program in which over 1,000 applicants from the Southern region of America applied and were interviewed to be one of the selected 100 students to spend a week at Georgia Tech, attending marketing and business management seminars, communication workshops, and dinner formals with CNN executives, directors, producers, and anchors. At the end of the week, CNN selected five from the 100 students to intern in five different departments of CNN. I was selected to intern under the Digital Marketing and On-Air Promotion Department under Mr. Scot Safon, the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of CNN Worldwide. The opportunity to study the complex marketing techniques utilized by CNN to air a headline story on television with greater viewing feedback was fascinating. I conducted viewer response calculations and attended strategic planning meetings to tactically select and design appropriate stories, headline titles, commercials, and print billboard advertisements. Selected as one of the five Asian minorities, I had a valuable glimpse at the business composition and structure in the function of hierarchy, priority, and technicality of the American business system in the area of communication broadcast system.
My past experiences, although minor, have provided certainty that my greatest interest lies in the field of business, and I am sure my inclination will self-motivate me to excel in this area. I know my previous ventures and achievements have brought me a step closer to becoming a real future business leader of America. I also know that this is only the beginning of my journey that I will continue to climb to, one day, become not only a business leader of America but also of Korea. I will only continue to achieve the best and not settle for mediocrity, especially with the educational support I anticipate to receive from Seoul National University to further my experiences and prepare me for the global business world.