Michelle Kim '03
"The first major shift in my worldview happened at Wellesley."
The first major shift in my worldview happened at Wellesley. My classmates were amazing women, academically and socially astute, with ambition and talent to spare. We came from different backgrounds but shared the same passion for excellence. It was exciting and overwhelming. The world was much bigger than I had thought—but instead of feeling the need to compete, I learned to be comfortable following my own path.
As a Classics major, I knew that I wouldn’t likely speak Latin after college. And yet, from interning at a TV studio to fundraising for a foster care center to teaching environmental science as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I’ve put to use the skills and mindset that Wellesley furnished as I collected valuable experiences that also influence my worldview and my day-to-day decisions.
It was a Wellesley alumna who encouraged me to pursue public health as a career. While working for her at a law school, I took a policy course that highlighted public health issues and I was hooked. Before I knew it, I had a Master’s in Public Health and had worked for a nationally recognized hospital and city health department for the better part of a decade.
I love being a public health professional. Currently I work for the US Agency for International Development as a Foreign Service Officer in the health sector. I represent the US in developing countries that have invited us to work with their authorities and other stakeholders to address national health priorities, such as stopping the spread of infectious diseases and preventing the deaths of mothers and children. This is one way that the US promotes the wellbeing of both US and local citizens as people and products move more frequently across borders.
Taking the path less traveled gave me a useful skill set for navigating bureaucracy and relationships in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. I’m also convinced that having studied Latin at Wellesley helps me to learn languages (5 and counting) more quickly—a real asset in my line of work!