Editor\u2019s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2025 graduating students over the coming days.<\/i><\/p>\n
Q: Why did you choose UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> Even though UConn is out-of-state for me, I felt drawn to it because of the strength of the program and the unique opportunities it offered. After touring the campus, I just couldn\u2019t say no. It had that true college-town feel, which was exactly what I wanted. Unlike city schools, where you\u2019re walking alongside people from all walks of life, UConn felt like a tight-knit community. Everywhere I went, I\u2019d run into students just like me, and that sense of connection was enough for me.<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> I\u2019m a sport management major, and I\u2019ve known I have wanted to be in this field since high school. UConn, having one of the top programs in the country, made the decision easy. To me, sports are more than just games; they\u2019re a powerful, universal language. They give people a way to express themselves without saying a word. My goal has always been to help others and combining that with my love and passion for sports gave me the perfect path forward: using sports as a tool to make a positive impact in the world.<\/p>\n Q: Did you have a favorite professor or class?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> Man\u2026 choosing just one professor feels impossible. I\u2019ve been lucky to have some amazing mentors. But if I had to shout someone out, it\u2019s Dr. Chen. He is my professor and my advisor, and he went above and beyond by agreeing to supervise a club I started at UConn. He\u2019s been consistently supportive, both academically and personally. We\u2019ve had countless run-ins on campus, whether it\u2019s at the gym or just walking around, and every time, it led to a funny or motivational chat I\u2019ll always remember.<\/p>\n Q: What activities were you involved in as a student?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> I was the president of KSA (Korean Student Association) and founded and served as president of GIFT (Guys in Fitness Training). On the job side, I worked briefly as a tour guide and was also part of the athletic operations team for UConn\u2019s sports programs. Getting involved in all these different spaces gave me the chance to meet incredible people and build lasting relationships. Get involved everywhere as much as you can.<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s one thing that surprised you about UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> I was never bored. Not once. People love to say college towns don\u2019t have much going on, but UConn proved them all wrong. If anything, there was too much to do. Even after four years, I feel like I barely scratched the surface of everything this place has to offer.<\/p>\n Q: What are your plans after graduation\/receiving your degree?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> I plan to continue working in the sports industry. I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to intern with a few teams, and I\u2019m excited to explore roles in sponsorships and partnerships. Long-term, I want to build something of my own. Something rooted in sports and driven by a bigger purpose. My dream is to make a difference while doing what I love.<\/p>\n Q: How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> UConn taught me how to be independent and thrive on my own. Sure, it\u2019s fun to be surrounded by friends, go to games together, and eat at the dining halls. But there were also those moments when I had to stand on my own. Those moments helped me figure out who I am, what I value, and the kind of people I want around me. Thanks to the support of my professors, advisors, and friends, I\u2019ve learned a lot about life and about myself.<\/p>\n UConn taught me how to be independent and thrive on my own. — Nathan Kim<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/p>\n Q: Any advice for incoming students?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> Come in knowing your \u201cwhy\u201d and be proud of it. Don\u2019t feel like you need to fit into a mold. UConn has so many clubs, organizations, and communities that you will find your people. Your journey is your own, and that\u2019s what makes it special. Be confident in your path, even if it looks different from everyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> Okay, I know the default answer is \u201cgo to a sporting game,\u201d yes, you should definitely do that, but I want to give you a different take: use the Rec Center. Whether it\u2019s group fitness classes, pickup sports, or just hanging out, the Rec Center is a hub of energy and good vibes. Even if you\u2019re not super into fitness, it\u2019s a great way to meet people and stay active. Honestly, it\u2019s one of the gems of campus life, and I definitely took this for granted. It\u2019s honestly one of the things I will miss the most.<\/p>\n Q: What will always make you think of UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n A:<\/strong> A husky. No doubt. Every time I see one, I instantly think of UConn. It\u2019s more than just a mascot here. It\u2019s part of who we are. Honestly, I might even get a husky one day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cEven though UConn is out-of-state for me, I felt drawn to it because of the strength of the program and the unique opportunities it offered.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":229076,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2427,1855],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1879],"class_list":["post-229075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-educational-leadership","category-neag"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-03 12:28:47","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229075"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":229519,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229075\/revisions\/229519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/229076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229075"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=229075"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=229075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMajor: <\/strong>BS, Sport Management
\nHometown: <\/strong>North Wales, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n\n