The Vice Chair of the National Youth Council for the 2010-2011 term, Seungjun Kim, sat down to share his American Red Cross experiences and some fun facts about himself!
Seungjun smiles for the camera!
Q: What was your first Red Cross experience and how did you get involved with the organization?
A: Personally, I first began volunteering for the Red Cross in the seventh grade, helping clean and fix mannequins and doing various office tasks. It wasn’t the most exciting work in the world, but it was a way for me to get exposed to all the different services the American Red Cross provided, in particular, the Health & Safety classes that I would eventually teach.
Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
A: Ten years from now, I hope to be finishing up my residency and beginning a career as a physician. I’m interested in going into neurology or cardiology, but I’m also thinking about getting a degree in public health as well and working on a systems and population level. I want to find the intersection between science, service, and lasting impact.
Q: What is your favorite food?
I love all different kinds of food, but if I had to pick, it would be galbi (Korean marinated beef ribs) or sushi.
Q: What is your advice to volunteers who are just starting out in the Red Cross organization?
A: Don’t just do the minimum requirements to be a volunteer and do what other people tell you to do, but seek out opportunities for yourself.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
A: Playing music – piano, drums, and guitar. Playing music brings out the little creativity in me, and it’s also a great way for me to de-stress.
Q: If you were given a million dollars today, what would you do with the money?
A: I would use most of the money to start a foundation that would support innovative organizations to build health infrastructure in developing countries through targeting specific diseases. I would spend the rest by donating some to the American Red Cross and investing the remaining in a retirement fund.
Q: What is your American Red Cross dream?
A: I have a dream that the Red Cross will become the premier nonprofit organization in America once again. More specifically, I think this means the public has to understand what the Red Cross does, and the Red Cross has to evolve to meet the current needs of America. The Red Cross needs to become a more effective fundraiser so that we can stop talking about money and start talking about the services again. And finally, the American Red Cross needs to be cool.
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