Sunyoung Park
PharmD Candidate, Class of 2030
St. John's University
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the
World.
As Michael Jackson sang, “Heal the World. Make it a better place…” That’s exactly what I want to do. There is so much more to disease and illness than just their physical symptoms. Not only do I want to be part of the physical healing process, but I also want to help with the mental aspect.
Having suffered from severe eczema since the age of two, I know better than anyone what patients go through. Yes, the constant itching and open skin were unbearably painful. But I was actually fighting a bigger battle—my own mind. It constantly brought me down and made me question, over and over, whether life was even worth living. If eczema could make me feel this way, imagine what millions of others are going through with different diseases.
As a pharmacist, I want patients to know they’re not fighting this battle alone—I am here for them. If I had someone to talk to, someone to remind me that I was special, I would have had an easier time pushing away those unhealthy thoughts. I don’t just want to help patients—I want to change their lives. I want to create medications and creams to be their armor and shield. My goal is to develop innovative treatments, especially for skin conditions, and make a real difference.
Dupixent changed my life. So much so that saying I’ve been born again wouldn’t be an exaggeration. I used to hate looking in the mirror, only to see an unfamiliar face staring back. I hated the nasty looks people gave me everywhere I went. I hated nice weather. I hated seeing people smile. Why were they so happy while I was so miserable? What did I do to deserve this? I resented everything. There was no light in my life before Dupixent—no such thing as “the bright side.” Up, down, left, right… everywhere was dark.
Knowing that at least one person is fighting this battle, I want to fight it alongside them.
The goal(s) I have for myself during the next 1-5 year(s) are as follows
- Have an internship at a pharma company
- Successfully graduate PharmD program at SJU
- Successfully network and gain lifelong friends and acquaintances
- Confidently know which field of pharmacy I want to work in
The goal(s) I have for myself during the next 5-10 year(s) are as follows
- Stable career as pharmacist
- Love what I do
- Positively impact patients’ lives
- Be happy
- Pay off student debt
- Live independently
- Send parents on a nice vacation and give them a monthly allowance
- Attend church retreats and maintain close relationship with God
- Make lots of new friends whom I can fully trust
- Meet a partner and potentially get married
The goal(s) I have for myself during the next 15 years are as follows
- Work at a pharma company in a high position- stable career
- Never have a boring day at work
- Potentially learn about acupuncture and physical therapy
- Teach others to love pharmacy
- Having a healthy balance between work and family
- Loving what I do and still having a strong passion for it
- Having a family- 3 kids???
- Creating innovative medication/cream and changing lives
- Potentially having my own brand of skincare
- Being financially stable
Major: Pharmacy (Six-year Pharm.D)
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Expected May 2030
Pharm D Candidate, 2025
Presidential Scholarship ($1,000)
Advanced Regents Diploma
National Honor Society
Seal of Biliteracy
- Developed course curriculum, lesson plans and supplemental materials to support student success.
- Designed and administered assessments to evaluate student progress and comprehension.
- Utilized various teaching methods, including technology and other interactive activities to enhance the learning experience.
Role: Barista and Cashier
- Prepare and serve a variety of hot and cold beverages, including coffee, tea, and specialty drinks
- Take customer orders and accurately input them into the cash register
- Operate espresso machines and other equipment to make beverages according to established recipes and quality standards
- Ensure cleanliness and organization of the coffee bar area, including restocking supplies and cleaning equipment
- Provide excellent customer service by greeting customers, answering questions, and resolving any issues or complaints
- Handle cash transactions, including receiving payments, giving change, and processing credit card transactions
- Maintain knowledge of menu items, ingredients, and allergen information to assist customers with their orders
- Follow all food safety and sanitation guidelines to ensure the safety of customers and staff
- Assist with food preparation tasks as needed, such as assembling sandwiches or pastries
Received: May 2019
- Designed creative posts to promote various events such as Dance Camp
- Persistently posted after events to recapitulate and check-in with followers
- Collaborated with different brands (Ex. Yaaastea)
- Established open and professional relationships with team members to achieve quick resolutions for various issues.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
- Picked up choreography moves easily and incorporated changes in choreography or new moves by staying flexible.
- Performed in South Korea, Canada, Japan, and European street performances.
- 2024 IYF World Camp (South Korea)- performed for over 20,000 people.
- 2025 New Year's Festival (Canada)- performed for over 3,000 people
Hiking this trail strengthened much more than just my body—it strengthened my mind. It taught me that I'm capable of doing far more than I thought. My mind told me to stop and that I couldn't go any further more than a million times. Despite that, when I took one more step, and then just one more after that, I was able to finish the hike in around six hours.
Through this hike, I realized that my biggest enemy was myself. I reflected on times when I was challenged and gave up right away, even though I would have been more than capable of accomplishing it. My mind constantly pushes my body to stay comfortable and avoid challenges.
This hike altered the way I think. When I was certain—200% sure—that I couldn't take another step, I found myself taking that step. When I face challenges and setbacks, I always refer back to this hike. Yes, when standing at the bottom and looking up at the problem, you may feel discouraged and want to give up before even starting. However, when you keep going regardless of what the voices in your head tell you, you can achieve marvelous things.
In all things whether it be your job, relationships, dance teams, and more, communication is KEY! Oftentimes, I expected people to take a hint and know why I'm upset or feeling a certain type of way. But especially through my dance team, I realized that is not the case. You have to communicate everything so that the best decision can be made.
The phrase, "Never stop learning" didn't come from nowhere. This is another reason why I want to be a pharmacist. There are ways to constantly evolve within the field. Your job isn't limited. Matter of fact, until you retire, you can continue to look for new medication and instruments to better others' lives.
o How do you plan on utilizing your strengths to help you accomplish your goals?
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