Alumni Check-in: Katherine Lee (Class of 2025)

Q. Where do you live now? Why? What are you doing?

A. I’m living in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s the perfect balance of academics and entertainment,

and the weather is nice enough to get me out the door every day.

I’m a first-year majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (on the Pre-Med track).

I’m on a dance team that travels to perform and compete, and I’m involved in several

medicine-related clubs as I explore whether I truly want to commit to medicine.

After productive study days, my friends and I hop on Emory’s free shuttles to explore

neighborhoods around campus. The long nighttime walks back are our main defense against

the freshman 15, because the food on campus is dangerously good.

Every building on campus has its own charm: some are so professional that we “lock in”

for three hours straight; others are where we act a little “unemployed” and play the campus

Nintendo Switch at 1 a.m.

So far, college in this city feels like the best fit I could ask for… great environment, great

people, and a sense that I’m exactly where I should be.

Q. Biggest differences vs. Kaohsiung? Biggest similarities?

A. Atlanta has Kaohsiung’s warmth without the humidity. It’s cooler (but not nose-freezing),

and the city feels spacious: fewer crowds, fewer cars and scooters, and lots of strip malls. It’s

familiar enough that I haven’t felt homesick yet (it’s only been 2–3 months, to be fair).

The biggest similarity is the people. Both places are full of warm, kind folks. I came in

thinking I was an introvert (maybe a loud introvert), but the openness here makes me want to

talk to more people every day, not because I have to, but because I want to.

Q. What does a typical day look like?

A. I usually wake up to warm sunlight peeking through the blinds and feel surprisingly

rested even if I had a sleep that was under six hours (I aim for 7.5). I get ready, chat with my

roommate, and grab a cup of warm water now that it’s chilly.

Most days I have two classes (pretty chill). Wednesdays are heavy: four classes from

8:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m., including back-to-back Chemistry lecture and lab… five straight

hours of Chem. Weirdly, I like it.

After class, I’m either at dance practice or in club meetings. Fridays I’m done by 11 a.m.,

so I volunteer or add to my clinical hours. Weekends are for sleeping in (until 10), hunting for

pretty study spots, and taking the shuttle with no plan (hopping off somewhere new, grabbing a

milkshake, and walking back to campus to “burn off” the freshman 15).

Q. One thing you miss most about being a high school student?

A. I loved how many experiences I had in high school (conferences, competitions, social

events) and how they shaped me (habits included). College has even more opportunities, so I

feel fulfilled and rarely nostalgic, even though high school was great.

My advice: work hard now so college feels like a continuation of growth: productive, entertaining, and full of momentum.

Q. Biggest “real world” lesson you wish you knew in high school?

A. Put yourself out there. Talk to people at events, ask for advice, post your work.

Opportunities tend to find people who are visible. If people don’t know you exist, they can’t

connect you with research, projects, or good news.

I’m glad I stretched myself in high school—MUN, Speech & Debate, NHS, Dance

Club—because it built stamina for being involved without burning out.

In college, being connected gives me belonging. At Emory, people are genuinely kind; every interaction adds a

little warmth to my day.

Q. Advice to your high school self

A. Be open to deeper connections. You can be “locked in” and well-connected at the same

time. Social energy doesn’t have to compete with academics. Find your sweet spot so you stay

charged, not drained.

Cultivate intrinsic motivation. College gives you a lot of freedom; use it to pursue

passions, not just obligations.

One thing I did right: I curated my social media algorithm. Seeing the mindsets and

lifestyles I admire helped me visualize who I want to become and choose habits that move me

toward that version of myself.

Q. Did your KAS experience prepare you?

A. Absolutely. KAS gave me opportunities and freedom… both mattered more than any one

“mundane class.” IB taught me how to study different subjects efficiently, which is saving me

now that I have at least one midterm every week.

I pushed myself in both academics and extracurriculars, so college feels balanced: I can

keep growing academically and build a life. When I look back on this semester, I want to be

proud of my coursework and clubs, and also smile at the 3am talks with friends over $1-delivery

McDonald’s.

Q. What are you looking forward to in the next five years?

A. I want to do work that I thrive in (technically and interpersonally) and meet challenges

with a positive, learning mindset. I work best with freedom and mobility, so I’m aiming for a fluid

lifestyle. I’m on the pre-med path now and interested in STEM, but I’m open to the opportunities

that show up.

Relationships matter most. The people around me are a big reason I get up in the

morning. Strong bonds give me perspective during hard weeks and a sense of stability when

academics get intense.

In five years, I want a system that helps me balance career, health, and social life—a

sustainable “marathon pace” that respects my needs and still pushes me toward my best self.