Soccer
Soccer has been a central part of my life since I was six or seven years old. I played competitively throughout my childhood, participating in both club and high school soccer, and had ambitions of playing at a Division I school before an injury during my U-17 years shifted that path. While I no longer compete at the same level, I still enjoy playing pick-up games whenever I can. Soccer remains one of the ways I reset mentally, stay active, and reconnect with the competitive drive that has always motivated me. My favorite team is Borussia Dortmund btw.
Gaming & Traveling
Outside of work and academics, I enjoy gaming and traveling as ways to recharge and stay connected. Gaming allows me to unwind after long days while spending time with friends. I also really like traveling and I try to go outside of the US at least once a year. Having lived and studied in both South Korea and the United States, I’ve also had the opportunity to visit many countries across Europe and Asia. Experiencing different cultures, cuisines, languages, and ways of thinking has deepened my appreciation for diversity and global collaboration. I enjoy meeting new people, learning from different communities, and understanding how cultures shape problem-solving and innovation. Both gaming and traveling keep me curious, adaptable, and open-minded.
Hi Sunghyun! My name is Mafil and I’m also in IS 5320.
First, I am so sorry to read about your soccer injury, but I am inspired by your motivation to keep playing at some capacity and have soccer still be a part of your life. I also like traveling and experiencing other cultures and communities I am not familiar with. I feel like the less comfortable I am, the greater learning moments I will have. I especially experienced this over summer when I participated in the Albers Study Tour in Italy. I haven’t traveled overseas much, but I would like to make it a goal to go to one new country every 3 years. We’ll see where I end up in 2028!
-Mafil
Really enjoyed reading this. Sounds like soccer played a big role in shaping your mindset and drive. I will let the word soccer slide this time, but we both know it is football. I am a Barca fan though, so there is definitely a friendly rivalry there. The travel part was great to read as well. I have been wanting to visit South Korea for a while now, so that caught my attention. Awesome post.
I really enjoyed reading this post, especially how you connected your hobbies to personal growth and mindset. Your experience with competitive soccer stood out to me, particularly how you reframed an injury not as an ending but as a shift in how you engage with the sport. That kind of resilience carries over well into academics and professional life. I also liked how you tied gaming and traveling to global perspectives and collaboration. Having lived in both South Korea and the U.S. clearly adds depth to how you approach culture, teamwork, and problem-solving.