Hi, I'm Jimin Yoo from Austin, Texas.

When I moved to Texas from South Korea at 14, I didn’t know what I would experience. My life was constantly interrupted by culture shocks, language barriers, and homesickness. But along the way, as I committed myself to learning a new language and adapting to a new culture, I discovered myself approaching unfamiliar settings with curiosity and attentiveness and appreciating the various opportunities to try something new and different. 

While noticing cultural differences every day, I found the American healthcare system intriguing, not because the U.S. has strong medicine technology, but because it lacks a realistic and proper healthcare culture. Of the many issues that complicate health issues in the United States, food insecurity and nutritional deprivation became my main interests.

What I witnessed in the U.S. helped me understand what it means by “you are what you eat.” The difference between the lifestyle and diet of Korea and the United States was stark. Soon, I started wondering why people develop unhealthy life habits and how these lifestyle choices lead people to obesity and diabetes. To better understand the various diseases and their impacts on human psychology and behavior, I began conducting my independent research. Through my research, what I learned was beyond scientific knowledge; it was my opportunity to reflect on my identity as an aspiring public health researcher.