Hye-jo Ahn – Spring 16
In what city or town did you grow up in?
I grew up in northern New Jersey.
Where are you currently living?
I am living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for dental school.
What was your major?
I majored in biology (like most students aspiring to become healthcare professionals).
Why did you choose to study away at NYU Sydney?
As a science major, I was limited to choosing from London, Sydney, or Tel Aviv as those sites were the only ones offering the courses I needed to take to fulfill the requirements for my major and for applying to dental school. I decided to study away at NYU Sydney because I knew nothing about Australian culture at the time and also wanted to study away at a site where I knew no one so that I could push myself to meet people I wouldn’t have met had I decided to study away at a site with other friends. I also decided to study away at NYU Sydney because in Australia, it is easy to get out of the city and go on a walk at a national park or the beach, which is a lot harder to do while living in New York City.
How would you describe your experience at NYU Sydney?
In one sentence, I experienced a lot of personal growth while studying away at NYU Sydney.
What was your favorite class and why?
To be completely honest, I didn’t have a favorite class because all the classes I took at NYU Sydney went toward fulfilling requirements for my major and for applying to dental school. I did enjoy having smaller class sizes and having the professor know everyone in the class by name, which is pretty much impossible at the main campus in Manhattan.
What was your favorite trip, excursion (Student Life or class related)?
My favorite trip was the Neighbourhood Connections: Chinese dinner with Mark. I, along with 9 other students, went to Ashfield to eat Chinese food with Mark, Laura, and Marcus. It’s also not surprising that my favorite Student Life-related trip involves food, considering how much I think about eating…
Where are you currently working/studying?
I am currently a first year dental student (also known as D1) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
When thinking about your experience at NYU Sydney what stands out to you most?
At the time I didn’t realize it, but now when I think about my time at NYU Sydney, I began to develop better habits like eating more healthily and exercising regularly. I had also begun to stand up for my values and not compromise them even though they differed from those of my friends. To summarize, I think I experienced a lot of personal growth during my semester away, which I did not see until after I returned to the States.
How has your experience at NYU Sydney impacted life after college?
When I look back on my time at NYU Sydney, I’m able to see that I began to improve my time management skills. I started meal prepping while abroad in order to save money and time, which is saving me a lot of time (and money) as a dental student. I also had started exercising regularly again during my semester away, and had to learn how to study more efficiently so that I had time to exercise. I’ve also learned while studying away that everyone goes at their own pace, and not to compare my own progress to someone else’s. I don’t think I would have learned that as quickly had I stayed in New York, where it’s common to compare oneself to everyone else. I’ve also learned that while it’s easy to follow the crowd, there’s a lot of value in creating your own path even though it is never easy to comply with the majority.