Recent Bobby Jones Scholar shares how the Emory Career Center helped her find a winning approach

This past Spring Semester, Four Emory students were selected as 2022 Bobby Jones Scholars.

We got the chance to speak with one of the 2022 Scholars, Sean Woo, to discuss how her visits to the Emory Career Center impacted her and led to her success as an applicant. She also shares what advice she has for future applicants to the program.

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Tell me a little bit about yourself

My name is Sean Woo, and I am a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am double majoring in Chemistry and Music Performance, while on the pre-medical track. On-campus, I am involved in Residence Life as the Senior Resident Advisor for Few, Evans, and the Themed Community Housing, serve as a Peer Mentor in the Pre-Health Advising Office, and am the president for the Catholic Student Union. Additionally, I conduct research on Pompe’s disease in a laboratory under Emory School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering with local organizations, exploring the outdoors, and playing the piano. In the future, I hope to serve in the medical field to alleviate pain and suffering in underprivileged areas in a way that empowers these communities.

 

 

What interested you in the Bobby Jones Scholarship?

Prior to beginning my application for the Bobby Jones Scholarship, I admittedly did not know much about the program or about its namesake, Mr. Robert T. Jones. However, as I began to learn more about Bobby Jones as I prepared to write my essays, I found an increasing number of parallels between the life of Bobby Jones and my own: from interests and hobbies to personal character and core values.

One such example is Jones’ value in building authentic connections across communities, particularly between various cultures. My Korean-American identity has led me to value such cross-cultural connections and the beauty that can arise from such relationships.

Additionally, Jones once said, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball as it lies.” This is very much in line with my own outlook on life that drives me to give my best efforts in whatever situation I find myself in. Jones’ life serves as a source of inspiration and validation for me, so I hoped to be part of the movement and legacy that was begun by Bobby Jones, and I am honored that I have been given the opportunity to do so.

 

How was the Career Center able to help you in the applicant process?

My first interaction with the Career Center was back in Fall 2018. I attended Dr. Paul Fowler’s “Interviewing Mindset” presentation to fulfill the requirement for the first-year PACE class. Little did I know how that one-hour presentation would impact me.

Ever since then, I have been carrying that PowerPoint handout with me everywhere I go and swear by it and the notes that I took during that session. Dr. Fowler tremendously boosted my confidence when stepping into interviews. Although I had reviewed that packet countless times since 2018, I still pulled it out during my preparation for the Bobby Jones interview process. It serves as a great reminder for both the technical skills as well as mindset, attitude, and confidence necessary in approaching interviews – and honestly, life in general.

I hadn’t really connected again with the Career Center until January 2021 during Winter Training for Residence Life. The ResLife training coordinator at the time, Gregory Hollinger, organized one-on-one sessions for Resident Advisors to meet with Career Center staff to develop resumes and elevator pitches. I was paired with Ms. Beth White, who helped me refine my resume in a way that allowed that single page to tell my story and highlight my strengths.

A year later, in January 2022, I remembered the thoughtful and constructive feedback I had received from Ms. Beth, and reached out to her for help with my Bobby Jones CV. She once again took the time to provide me feedback that helped me to feel more confident in my work.

Upon hearing that I moved past the written application phase, Ms. Beth then encouraged me to connect with my cluster advisor, Mr. Don Cornwell, for interview preparation. Mr. Don helped me to gain a new perspective of how to approach interviews that I was able to apply to the Bobby Jones interviews and will continue to keep in mind for the future. I came out of that meeting feeling much more confident in my ability to take on any interview.

“It is evident that the Career Center is made up of staff members, like Ms. Beth and Mr. Don, who desire the best for our students and truly care about helping us succeed.”

 

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Now that you’ve been selected, how do you think an experience like this will help you in your future career?

My long-term goal is to matriculate in medical school, with a focus on how Chemistry can help prevent and ameliorate medical conditions while maintaining the dignity of individuals through faith, compassion, and the forging of lasting interpersonal relationships.

My time at St Andrew’s will further develop my drive and help me crystallize an actionable plan for my professional future, and the Catalysis MSc will enable me to further pursue my passion for chemistry prior to embarking on my journey in medicine. These studies will help me to better understand the small yet powerful reactions that govern human biology and individual health, deepening my foundation in chemistry, and its practical application in the realm of health and medicine.

Moreover, healthcare equity intersects with many social justice issues that arise from the cultural and social ecosystem, such as environmental factors, health inequity, and social conditions that promote the presence of disease. I believe that immersing myself in the culture of another country will help me be a better physician by expanding the frames of reference from which health and disease emerge.

 

 

What would you recommend to other students, thinking about applying for scholarships like this?

Be confident in yourself and the person have become. Your passions are important, and your hard work is valuable. Whether you know it or not, you have made an impact on those around you. It has been said that “Comparison is the thief of joy,” so sometimes, it can be beneficial to put on those horse blinders and stop comparing yourself to those around you. Build your confidence and take a leap of faith – you never know what doors might open for you!

 

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m very thankful that I had Sherry Ebrahimi, Emory’s Director of Conference Services and Housing Administration by my side, who encouraged me and supported me through my self-doubt – lean on and trust your support system! She is my trusted advisor and mentor, and passionately encouraged me to apply for the Bobby Jones Scholarship. Prior to this moment, I would have never considered applying for this scholarship because I had not envisioned myself as an eligible, let alone competitive, applicant.

I also want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my gratitude for all that the Career Center has taught me!

 

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About the Bobby Jones Scholars Program

“Inaugurated in 2008, the Robert T. Jones, Jr. Fellowship annually provides full funding for one student from Emory and one student from St Andrews to pursue a graduate degree at the opposite university. The Fellowship honors Bobby Jones’s history of academic achievement by selecting highly motivated individuals with records of intellectual excellence and a high potential for postgraduate success in their chosen academic field. ” from BobbyJones.emory.edu

By The Career Center
The Career Center