Sung Hun Choi: 'My peers taught me about different cultures, backgrounds, cuisines, and even my new hobby of rock climbing'

Sung Hun Choi

Biological Sciences

Cary, NC

What accomplishments/activities are you most proud of while at Cornell?

I played a part in creating, "The Watershed Declaration," a call to action for raising awareness for mental health in Ithaca and Tompkins County. This call to action was established during a meeting hosted by The Sophie Fund with 18 governmental and non-profit organizations in Tompkins County, along with the campuses of Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College. The declaration was presented to the Tompkins County Legislature, which declared September as "Watershed Declaration Month" in Tompkins County.

What, if any, research projects did you participate in at Cornell?

My favorite research project studied the effect of self-reported loneliness on positive bias (memory) in the elderly. During the project, I was able to interact with various adults and got to hear their stories ranging from their childhood years to recent months. While I found the cognitive neuroscience aspect of the study to be fascinating, I also throughly enjoyed the process of listening to various memories from the participants, as well, since some people had incredible stories to share.

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most? How or why?

I believe that the individuals who influenced my Cornell education the most were my peers. While I learned a lot from my professors regarding specific topics of biology and chemistry, I learned even more from my peers. My peers taught me the importance of time management, prioritizing school work and even the secrets to succeeding in my classes; however, they also taught me so much more than educational insights. They taught me about different cultures, backgrounds, cuisines, and even my newly developed hobbies such as rock climbing. My peers were the individuals that kept me grounded during my times of struggle and the ones that were always supportive and encouraging. Without them, I have no doubt that I would not be the student and the person I am today.