Personal Statement

I transferred to the school of natural science and mathematics at the Indiana University East(IUE) as a math major in Spring 2019.  It was a piece of surprising news, not only to me, but also to my family, since I had already studied for 6 years to complete a bachelor’s degree in medicine and for another 2 years to study public health at the master’s level; worked as a researcher at Emory and at Harvard schools of public health for about a year in total; and been practicing as a physician at a public clinic for the underserved in a rural area for about 2 years prior to joining the IUE.

I had 2 primary objectives when I decided to pursue another bachelor’s in math.  One was a practical reason to improve my undergraduate GPA.  It was necessary for me to increase my GPA as high as possible to be admitted to one of so-called T14, standing for top 14, law schools, since my grades in my original bachelor studying medicine was not exceptional.  The other reason, yet impractical, was much more important to me for my personal achievement and satisfaction, because it was mathematics and science I originally wanted to study further and major in when I initially was entering a university.  I was only 18 at the time, and made one of the biggest decisions in my life without giving a careful thought, simply welcoming my parents’ suggestion and expectation of me, and strong encouragement to become a doctor.

Math courses can be classified into a few distinct areas.  To name a few, they are algebra, chiefly dealing with arithmetic operations and patterns found within; calculus, studying the limits, derivatives, and integrals of functions; logic, proofs, and analysis; and applied topics such as statistics, probability, and mathematical models.

Among the categories mentioned above, I tried to take as many proof-based analysis and logic courses, and select applied topics of differential equation and mathematical modelling as possible.

Through the training in writing proofs, my aim was to hone and maximize the ability to critically and logically think, a necessity to a legal professional.  Also, differential equations and mathematical modelling are the techniques widely used in operational research, the subject I have keen interest in studying further at the graduate level afterwards.  Taking such courses in honors standing will guarantee my solid understanding in each subject in depth than cursorily familiarizing myself with the concepts.

For my Honors thesis or capstone project, I have 2 inspiring ideas.  One is writing a comprehensive report after interning at the intellectual property department of a law firm.  I recently reached out to DR \& AJU Law Group LLC, a 4th biggest law firm in Korea, to explore the opportunity and am currently developing and outlining the terms of reference for the internship in Summer.  I am excited to actively participate in legal research, patent licensing, and trial preparation under a close supervision of a practicing lawyer.

The other option is publishing a research paper in a respected scientific journal about the coronavirus pandemic originated from Wuhan region in China with a domestic and worldwide scope.  Since there is much to be discovered about this novel virus, obtaining reliable estimates of disease communication rate and probability; of mild and moderate cases, and severe cases requiring hospitalization; and of deaths by applying advanced mathematical modelling techniques is crucial for the governmental health department and disease control center.  I wish to help and bring about a change to the world with mathematics in this global crisis.

The biggest takeaway I would say from completing another bachelor is I have become to know better about myself.  While it should be the case, I myself know best about myself, so that I can shape my life as I wish, or at least closest to I wish it to be, as the owner of my life, instead of being the subject of “life happening to me”.

In that regard, whenever I make a decision, especially an important one, I try to allow myself as ample time as I can so that I can identify the best option for me with least regret after exploring and pondering upon alternatives enough.  After a few repeated such instances, making decisions about which PhD admission offer and which job offer to take, I even become to believe I more or less know well about myself.

However, it turned out not to be the case.  While taking mathematics courses over time, I have not simply been solving math problems and gaining new knowledge, but also, maybe subconsciously, “connecting the dots” of my life – identifying significant achievements or milestones in my life and how they are interconnected.  Another way of saying this is I have only made a relatively short-term evaluation of my life to make any decisions about future.

There was an astonishing moment to have an epiphany to find out I have always been seeking truth, and honing and developing the ability to do so – mathematics and physics were the subjects I found most interesting and intriguing when I was in high school, then I studied medicine.  Afterwards, I dove into the world of research, and daresay learnt not only the skills to critically review and write a scientific research paper, but also how human knowledge advances.  Then I found myself studying mathematics, arguably the most logical subject above all, at IUE in Honors standing, and wish to become a legal professional.  I can only wonder where my truth-seeking adventure of my life would head next.

Now bachelor-level training in mathematics is about to end.  What changed is my self-awareness and my confidence coming from the awareness – it is no longer a claim but a fact through the training at IUE I have become to have a better knowledge about myself, and thus I feel grateful.  I will continue my journey as a truth-seeker studying any tools I would need along the way.