Freshman Spotlight: Abby Shim (freshman, business)

How were your first couple weeks of school at Andrews University?
Being on campus took some getting used to, but my first couple of weeks went well! To be honest, I was a little anxious that they wouldn’t be able to do much because of COVID restrictions, but they still managed to give us an almost normal experience (with masks) for orientation, which I think we all appreciated. Getting to know new people in-person after the last few COVID-style semesters felt great.

What is your background?
I was born in New York, but I came here from Maryland. New York is still my favorite place in the entire world, but I have a lot of DMV (Washington, D.C.)  pride as well, since I’ve lived there for the past eleven years. My parents immigrated from South Korea in the early 90s. I’m the youngest in my family; I have two older sisters and one older brother.

What are your interests/hobbies?
Before COVID hit, I enjoyed playing soccer in high school and I like to watch the Premier League. I also really love to travel! The pandemic threw a wrench in that, but I like to learn about different cultures in general. Besides that, I like reading and calligraphy.

Why and how did you choose Andrews?
Andrews was actually a last minute decision for me.  I applied after college decision week passed in May. I remember asking God back in October when college application season was in full swing to pave the way financially for college. I assumed that meant going to state school, since tuition was cheap, but the scholarship for Andrews ended up working out even better. I felt like all of the other things I wanted from my college experience such as smaller class sizes, a chance to dorm, and worship opportunities were all here as well. I just felt a conviction that He was calling me here, and I’m glad I listened.

What is your current major and your future career plans?
I am a business major on the pre-med track. For now, I’m set on medical school, but I’ve thought about pursuing an MD/MBA. Later down the line, I hope to be in healthcare administration.

What is your overall reaction to Andrews?
Everyone here is so sweet: the staff, faculty, upperclassmen, and my classmates. There seems to be a sense of community. It’s also super diverse, and I love seeing so many different ethnic backgrounds being represented everywhere I go on campus.

The mosquitoes here, though, are massive and really annoying. They might be the only con to the campus so far, although I’ve heard the cafe food can get old fast.
 
What are you involved in at Andrews and what else do you hope to become more involved in?
I haven’t gotten truly involved yet at Andrews since I’m still trying to acclimate to college, but I especially hope to get more involved with campus ministries and service projects. I also can’t wait to join a few clubs, like KASA!

What stood out to you the most at Andrews?
The professors I have seem to truly care about their students and put in a lot of effort to help us succeed. They all seem so passionate about their fields of study, and I think that really shows when they’re teaching us. Also, they try to get to know each one of us on a personal level and I thought that was really admirable considering how busy they probably are.

What is one memorable experience you have had so far?
For the second mentoring group session during orientation week, I actually joined a random group because I couldn’t find my group in time. The group leaders ended up taking everyone to Silver Beach for a spontaneous getaway, and it was so fun! It was my first time ever visiting Silver Beach, and it did not disappoint. Two juniors, Zyon and Ashley, drove me and some other girls, and they were so welcoming. When the night was over, before they dropped us off at Lamson, they prayed over us and for the upcoming school year. We were really touched by their kindness.