Hi everyone! I’m Jiyoun, a rising sophomore concentrating in English with a certificate in the Global Health Program. On campus, I’m involved as a Peer Health Advisor, writer for Nassau Weekly, and counselor with Camp Kesem. This summer, I interned with Special Olympics International, where I was able to serve athletes with disabilities while delving more deeply into a nonprofit environment.
Special Olympics is an organization that strives to provide sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. At this nonprofit, I worked as Global Impact intern, tasked with collaborating with colleagues from all across the world to synthesize stories of impact into a narrative of inclusivity. This summer was exciting because I was able to fulfill my written responsibilities while spearheading a project that I had long fostered a keen interest in.
My project was titled: India: A Comprehensive Health Assessment. I conducted literary research on global and Indian health as affected by COVID-19. More specifically, I delved into how Indian students with disabilities were disproportionately (negatively) impacted by the health crisis – and how Special Olympics could fill in the gaps left by the pandemic, thus positively influencing the physical and mental health of this group. This project will aid Special Olympics as it extends programming to various regions as the pandemic abates.
I am grateful to have had such a fulfilling summer working with such an amazing – and special – organization.
