Let’s Talk About College: Welcome Back WAFL Alumni! | Nov. 23, 2024
On November 23, the WAFL Program held a Let’s Talk About College workshop and invited a few of our graduates to speak about their college experiences. This year’s panel included Joon Kwon (2023), Marie Kim (2023), Olivia Lee (2023), and Danielle Yoon (2024). They spoke about their experiences with college admissions, their day-to-day as college students, and how they find the right balance between their school, work, and personal lives. They also answered student questions specific to the schools and programs they are enrolled in to give more insight about their lives after graduating from high school and the WAFL Program.
Keep reading to learn more about our panelists!
JOON KWON, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS
Hey! I'm Joon and I am currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pursuing a BS in Information Systems with an additional major in Economics and a minor in Human-Computer Interaction. Ultimately, I want to integrate my studies with my experiences to better understand our revolving world of tech systems, business strategy, and most importantly people. Currently, I've found that product managers sit comfortably on this axis so I'm excited to explore this career path through networking and skills development. Outside of academics, I'm a huge pickleballer and rock climber, both in Pittsburgh and back home in Johns Creek, Georgia. I also run a small flower bouquet business on Instagram on @jooniesflowerss!
MARIE KIM, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, HISTORY
Hi! I’m Marie and I’ll be a sophomore at Georgetown University (A.B. in History) after transferring from a different university after my first year. I’m also an ‘23 alumni of the WAFL program. If you have any questions on what transferring or the Georgetown application process is like, feel free to ask me any questions.
OLIVIA LEE, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Hi! I'm Olivia and I'm from Massachusetts and I'm a second-year at Northwestern. I study biomedical engineering but am new to the engineering aspect but I love it so far. I'd love to talk about anything, college life, living away from home, etc.
DANIELLE YOON, YALE UNIVERSITY, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS
Danielle Yoon is from Frisco, Texas, and is currently a freshman at Yale University interested in studying Political Science and Economics. On campus, she is part of the Yale Undergraduate Consulting Group, Yale Political Institute, Yale Symphony Orchestra, and Yale Literary Magazine. As a cellist, she was selected to be on NPR's From The Top, Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), and the New England Conservatory's International Morningside Music Bridge Program, among others. She was named a 2022 Texas Young Master by the Texas Cultural Trust and Texas Commission on the Arts, and is a 2022 and 2024 National YoungArts Award Winner. Danielle also presided over her high school's Model United Nations, Asian American Student Association, and orchestra program, and served as the senior representative in her district council. She was part of the WAFL program for all four years of high school!
WAFL Field Trip: SoHo Art Galleries | Nov. 16, 2024
On November 16, the WAFL students took their first field trip to several art galleries in SoHo, New York.
The first stop was Canal Projects, a nonprofit contemporary art gallery that highlights and supports international artists at pivotal moments in their careers. The students explored Anne Duk Hee Jordan’s immersive art installation, Snailing, which uses long curtains coiled in the shape of snail shells to create cozy enclosures where the students listened to music written by the artist and learned about the remarkable story of Jeremy the snail.
The next stop was Eden Gallery where the students checked out the colorful contemporary artwork, including many sculptures by David Kracov. After, we headed to the Park West Gallery to see their extensive collection of pieces from Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali’s estates.
We also had a photo contest during the field trip. The WAFL students had a great time photographing the artwork and each other. Congratulations to the winners, Grace Kim (11th Grade, NJ) and Irene Moon (9th Grade, NY)!
After checking out the exhibits, we headed over to Tomiño for Spanish tapas before making our way back home. Thank you to all the WAFL students and KAYF board members who joined us!
Pictured above: Irene and Yeeun strike a post at the Eden Gallery in SoHo.
College Prep Seminar & Essay Writing Workshop | Nov. 9, 2024
On November 9, the WAFL Program held its annual College Prep Seminar & Essay Writing Workshop. This week was led by Ed Kim, VP of Education & Training at Code Ninjas, who has many years of experience working with high school students to achieve their higher education goals. Ed’s presentation covered the college admissions process, what admissions officers look for, and how students can stand out from other applicants.
Student Testimonies
“[The workshop] was very helpful and I took many notes about college admissions and how to write the essays. Since I am just a sophomore, this was a great way to be familiar with what to expect and to put less pressure on myself next year when the time comes.” - Erin, 10th Grade
“[As a junior], the workshop was extremely helpful. All my questions about the college application process were answered due to Ed's breadth of coverage in his presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and I have lots to take away from it. Thank you Ed, it was perfect!” - Lauren, 11th Grade
“My favorite part was when we asked questions and he answered them thoroughly. I felt like that was very important since the questions came from actual students that are experiencing the process of college apps and curious which stuff are more beneficial.” - Emilia, 11th Grade
“It really helped me understand more deeply about college essays when he showed the example of a previous student's essay. Learning the writing methods and storytelling elements are crucial and Ed really made understanding it easier.” - Kaylee, 11th Grade
WAFL Orientation | Oct. 26, 2024
AND WE’RE BACK! On October 26, KAYF kicked off the 2024-2025 WAFL Program with our first online session. During the orientation, KAYF Executive Director Eri Kim discussed the program schedule, student conduct policy, and how students can qualify for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This was followed by student introductions for the new WAFL class to get to know each other.
To close, we announced an upcoming field trip in November to a local art gallery in New York. We also announced that KAYF is recruiting interns from the WAFL class to assist with creating marketing materials, conducting alumni outreach, and more.
The WAFL Program has been conducted online since 2020 and is open to Asian American teens nationwide. This year, we have 21 new students joining our roster for a total of 72 students representing 14 states across the US as well as a province in South Korea.
2024 WAFL Orientation Camp | Oct. 12-14, 2024
From October 12 to 14, the Korean American Youth Foundation hosted the WAFL Orientation Camp at Hands In 4 Youth in West Milford, NJ. This is the first time we have been able to host the camp since the pandemic, and we are thrilled to share that 16 WAFL students, including three from West Virginia and Oklahoma, participated in the three-days, two-nights camp.
On Day 1, the students got to know each other with introductions and icebreakers. The students broke out into teams of four, created team names, and designed unique posters representing their group. The groups then competed with each other in team-building games.
To close out the first night of the camp, we held a film screening of Jeronimo: The Untold Tales of Koreans in Cuba. This was followed by a special Q&A with the director of the documentary, Joseph Juhn, who took questions from the students and shared his insights on filmmaking, navigating multiple cultural identities, and the diaspora as the future of Korea.
We kicked off Day 2 of the camp by warming up with a nature walk and an improv speech activity. The students then worked as teams for the weekend’s biggest project, KAYF x Shark Tank: Be the Change You Want to See.
As part of this project, the teams brainstormed issues or problems they wanted to address and worked together to pitch their ideas and solutions to a panel of “sharks” made up of KAYF board members. The sharks spoke with each group and helped them flesh out their ideas, which ranged from innovative golfing accessories to accessibility for people with disabilities.
After a busy morning of brainstorming and discussion, the students went outside for some much-needed fresh air and outdoor activities. Led by staff members of Hands In 4 Youth, the WAFL students played team-building games, climbed challenge courses and rock walls, and tried their hands at archery.
In the evening, the students finished up their Shark Tank presentations and pitched their business ideas to the judges. The winning team GEWI (Ethan Lee, William Kim, Grace Kim, and Irene Moon) presented their project Garden Nana, a vertical gardening product that emphasized sustainability and supporting local farms and businesses.
To celebrate the last night of the WAFL camp, we went outside for a bonfire to make smores (and we couldn’t forget the instant noodles, of course!)
After a busy weekend, we concluded the WAFL Orientation Camp with some basketball, volleyball, and final reflections before making our way back home.
