# @ucsandiego on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLp3joBvrBu
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/32040559-ucsandiego-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/22095b938b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-03T17:34:21.000+00:00

## Caption

“I moved from South Korea to the U.S. when I was young, without knowing a word of English. I became the family translator pretty quickly, especially at the doctor’s office. That’s where I learned how intimidating healthcare could be when you don’t speak the language. It made me want to help people feel less alone in vulnerable moments.

But nothing shaped me more than losing my dad to cancer during my freshman year of college. I was 18—handling hospice decisions, medical translation, and grief all at once. It wasn’t just heartbreaking; it was transformative. It showed me that strength isn’t always loud—it can be quiet presence in a hospital room. That experience is why I want to become a physician.

When I came to UC San Diego, I was excited—but within a year, I had to take two quarters off to care for my dad. Coming back was hard. But I rebuilt from the ground up. I founded Kindness Collective, a club rooted in connection and service. It started as a scribble in my notes app and became a full organization—mentorship programs, service projects, a Kindness Marathon. We even got a message from a new student saying, “This club is exactly what I’ve been looking for.” That made it all worth it.

I’ve worked as an EMT, volunteered in trauma wards, mentored students, and researched in labs—but I think my greatest contribution has been helping people feel safe and seen. I want to keep doing that in medicine — center care on compassion, especially for underserved communities, and bring warmth into spaces that often feel cold and clinical.

I’d tell anyone feeling lost: You’re not alone. You can fall apart and still rebuild. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up—for yourself and for others. My most meaningful moments at UC San Diego came from letting people in and being authentic.”

- Jennifer Shin (she/her/hers), Human Biology B.S., Class of 2025

#UCSD #UCSanDiego #TritonStories

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## Tags

tritonstories, ucsandiego, ucsd

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