Student Post: Sally Park, MPP 18

Thanks to our Senior Team Harris member, Sally Park (MPP 18), for this guest post! 

Hi all! My name is Sally Park; I am a second year M.P.P. student at Harris and Team Harris Senior Ambassador. Since the day I posted on Facebook that I got accepted to the Harris School of Public Policy, I have been receiving many messages from friends and friends of friends about my student life at the school. I finally had a chance to visit my home in Korea after my first year in school and internship at the World Bank, and talk with prospective students over coffee. It was really nice to meet students who are passionate about working for the public regardless of their fields, and to share my great experience at Harris with them. Talking with them actually gave me more conviction why I chose public policy and why I chose Harris to follow my dream – so thank you for students who showed up!

For those who have missed, I wanted to share some of the questions that might interest you, as well.

Q. Harris emphasizes data analysis skills. Did you actually acquire those skillsets?

A. Whether I end up finding a job or pursuing a Ph.D., I realized that I need to strengthen quantitative skills. At Harris, I learned how to use STATA, and how to read and analyze data. I knew nothing about programming and data analysis before I came to Harris—now I am actually using STATA in my current internship at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and also a Stats TA. So much progress in one year!

Q. How’s student life as an international student? Do you think you fit into the community?

A. Harris is a very diverse and international community. I should say the greatest asset that I had over the last year are my friends at Harris. You can meet people from all over the country; I love talking to all of them who have different perspectives for a variety of issues. This is one small example: I got invited to Mexico City by my Mexican friends last winter break, and had an awesome time there – I honestly thought I was the VIP guest!

Q. Looking back, do you think you would choose Harris again?

A. Absolutely! As long as you want to address the problems, make an impact, and change the world, I believe Harris provides you with all the resources and skills that you need. I had a great experience with serving as a Programming Director in Women in Public Policy and Communications Manager in Chicago Policy Review last year, and also secured the internship at the World Bank last summer with my experience at Harris. I’m looking forward to this year’s Harris experience as my second year, too. So, why not?!