01
HEALTH & ACCESS
Access to care.Ensuring that everyone—especially the most vulnerable—can receive the medical care they need.
Building
pathways
to care.
by GRACE JO
I notice where care fails to reach—and bring people, skills, and resources together to close the distance.
◉SEE.Notice what others may overlook.
●CONNECT.Bring people, skills, and resources together.
♡ACT.Turn an idea into something tangible.
FEATURED STORIES
“ Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. ”— Grace Jo
My Impact
Different needs. Same belief.
Every person deserves to live with health,
dignity, and belonging.
Through direct service and long-term projects,
I work alongside people to create lasting change
in their lives and communities.
“Real change happens when we see people, listen to them, and walk with them until they can move forward on their own.”— Grace Jo
02DIGNITY &
Conditions for living.
DIGNITY &
BASIC NEEDS
Conditions for living.Providing safe homes, nutritious food, daily care, and opportunities for independence.
03BELONGING &
A place among others.
BELONGING &
COMMUNITY
A place among others.From isolation to connection—creating spaces where people feel seen, included, and valued.
IMPACT IN ACTION
A few moments from the journey
A JOURNEY THAT CONTINUES
Small steps, consistent efforts, lasting change.
2021–2022Beginnings2023–2024Building2024–2025Exploring2025–2026Applying & Serving2026Continuing Forward
“It’s not about how much we do,
but how much love we put into what we do,
and how many lives we walk alongside.”— Grace Jo
HOME › IMPACT › HEALTH & ACCESS
HEALTH
& ACCESS
Care should not depend on distance.
Every person deserves access to medical care and support, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak. I work with doctors, volunteers, and communities to bring care closer to those who need it most.
— Grace Jo
“Although I could not join them in person, the network I helped build in Korea continued to grow—connecting physicians across borders and leading to collaboration with medical professionals on the ground.”— Grace Jo
♧FIELD VOLUNTEER NETWORKWorking in Korea and overseas
♡MEDICAL SPECIALISTSAcross multiple specialties
◎MIGRANT WORKERS & FAMILIESHospital accompaniment and interpretation
◉REMOTE MEDICAL SUPPORTConnecting field volunteers with Korean physicians
WHAT I DO
MIGRANT MEDICAL SUPPORT
Accompanying and interpreting for migrant workers and their families so they can receive the care they need.
- Hospital accompaniment and translation
- Help with medical procedures
- Support through language barriers
PHYSICIAN NETWORK
Building a network of volunteer doctors across specialties to provide expert advice and treatment guidance.
- Real-time consultation for urgent cases
- Guidance and treatment support
- Help navigating complex situations
FIELD VOLUNTEER NETWORK
Training and mobilizing volunteers to deliver medical supplies, health information, and on-site support.
- Delivering medicine and essential supplies
- Sharing health information
- Supporting underserved communities
SIX STORIES OF CARE
01
BETWEEN LANGUAGES AND CARE
When understanding became the first form of treatment.
THE BARRIERLanguage made an already unfamiliar medical system harder to navigate.MY ROLEI accompanied migrant workers and families, interpreted conversations, and helped them understand what would happen next.WHAT I LEARNEDTranslation is not simply about replacing one word with another. In healthcare, it can create the trust a person needs to ask questions and receive care.
02
CONNECTING CARE ACROSS DISTANCE
Helping the right question reach the right physician.
THE BARRIERField volunteers encountered urgent health questions in communities where specialist care was difficult to reach.MY ROLEI helped bring Korean physicians and overseas volunteers into one communication network so questions, observations, and professional guidance could move more quickly.WHAT I LEARNEDI could not provide medical treatment myself, but I could help connect people with those qualified to advise them.
03
STAYING BESIDE THE PATIENT
Sometimes care begins with noticing—and staying.
THE BARRIERFor older adults, illness was often accompanied by loneliness and long stretches without meaningful conversation.MY ROLEThrough repeated visits, I listened, shared activities, and learned to recognize the person beyond the patient.WHAT I LEARNEDHealth is not only treatment. Consistent presence, dignity, and human connection can also be part of how someone experiences care.
04
FROM REMOTE CONNECTION TO ON-SITE CARE
When a network built for questions grew into collaborative care.
THE OPPORTUNITYThe network primarily helped overseas volunteers consult Korean physicians from a distance. When the opportunity arose, six Korean physicians traveled to Kenya and worked alongside Korean doctors already serving in the community, combining their experience to provide care in person.MY ROLEAlthough I did not travel with the medical team, I had helped establish the communication network connecting physicians in Korea with needs identified by volunteers in Africa. That continuing connection made both remote guidance and on-site collaboration easier.WHAT I LEARNEDA network can do more than answer urgent questions online. When relationships are sustained, physicians can share knowledge across countries, collaborate with doctors already working locally, and turn connection into direct care when opportunities arise.
05
VOLUNTEER COORDINATION
Turning willingness to help into a coordinated response.
THE BARRIERDoctors and volunteers wanted to contribute, but their knowledge, time, and local needs were not always connected.MY ROLEI helped organize communication between people in different roles, clarify what support was needed, and keep information moving between the field and medical professionals.WHAT I LEARNEDA network becomes useful only when people know whom to contact, what to share, and how to respond responsibly.
06
CONNECTING ACROSS COMMUNITIES
Building trust across different languages, places, and experiences.
THE BARRIERPeople can share the same need for care while experiencing institutions, language, and help very differently.MY ROLEI worked across communities by listening first, adapting how I communicated, and connecting each person with volunteers or professionals who could respond appropriately.WHAT I LEARNEDConnection is not created by assuming that everyone needs the same thing. It begins by understanding the person and responding to the need they actually express.
OUR IMPACT IN HEALTH
My work connects people to care, resources, and hope—especially when barriers feel too big.
◇BRIDGED LANGUAGE BARRIERSHelping people overcome language and cultural barriers to receive care.
⌂CONNECTED PATIENTS TO CAREGuiding individuals to appropriate medical services and support.
◎CONNECTED DOCTORS & VOLUNTEERSBuilding a trusted network linking physicians with field volunteers.
♡SUPPORTED CONTINUITY OF CAREStaying with people through treatment, recovery, and the challenges that follow.
VOICE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
“This work has taught me to listen with my whole heart, to see the meaning behind each call for help. It’s not just about service—it’s about walking alongside with love.”— Field Volunteer
Healthcare is not a privilege. It is a right.
HOME › IMPACT › DIGNITY & BASIC NEEDS
DIGNITY &
BASIC NEEDS
Restoring the conditions people need
to live with dignity.
When basic needs are met with care and respect, people can begin to rebuild their lives with hope and independence. I try to meet those needs not only through immediate help, but through consistent support—restoring safe homes, sharing nourishing meals, offering companionship, and creating opportunities for meaningful work. To me, dignity means helping people regain stability, choice, and confidence in their own future.
THE WORK
FOUR PATHWAYS TO DIGNITY
THE DETAILS
FOUR STORIES OF DIGNITY
01
HOME RESTORATION
Cleaning wasn’t enough.
THE NEEDSome families were living in homes where accumulated waste and damaged interiors had made daily life unsafe.OUR RESPONSEWe helped with deep cleaning, wallpaper and flooring, bathroom and electrical work, and the practical steps needed to make each space livable again.WHAT I LEARNEDA safe home does more than meet a physical need. It restores privacy, stability, and the possibility of beginning again.
02
FOOD & NOURISHMENT
A meal can also say, “You are not alone.”
THE NEEDOlder adults living alone and people experiencing homelessness needed both regular nourishment and consistent human contact.OUR RESPONSEWe prepared and delivered side dishes, lunch boxes, groceries, and daily essentials, often adding handwritten notes.WHAT I LEARNEDFood meets an immediate need, but the way it is offered can also communicate respect, attention, and belonging.
03
EDUCATION & OPPORTUNITY
A place to learn can become a place to belong.
THE NEEDChildren from multicultural and single-parent families often wanted to learn but had limited access to academic support, music lessons, and a safe place to gather after school.OUR RESPONSEWith funding secured through the foundation, we helped create an education center. I participated in planning the interior and educational programs, where children could study, learn instruments, share meals, and grow together.WHAT I LEARNEDEducational opportunity is not only about providing lessons. It begins by creating a place where children feel welcomed, supported, and free to discover what they are capable of.
04
WORK & INDEPENDENCE
Support should create a path toward independence.
THE NEEDPeople with disabilities and social isolation often face limited access to training, fair work, and welcoming workplaces.OUR RESPONSEA social café created opportunities for work experience, wages, community participation, and growing confidence.WHAT I LEARNEDDignity grows when people are not only helped, but trusted with meaningful roles and opportunities to shape their own future.
Dignity is not only about meeting an immediate need.
It is about creating the conditions to live safely and independently.
One person can’t do everything, but everyone can do something.
BELONGING &
COMMUNITY
From isolation to participation.
Every person longs to belong. I create spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and included—and where they can discover the joy of being part of something bigger than themselves.
01
A JOURNEY FROM ISOLATION TO BELONGING
1 REACH OUT
We showed up consistently and built the first connection.
2 LISTEN
Through many visits and conversations, trust began to grow.
3 GATHER
Small group activities—music, plants, and creative time—brought people together.
4 PARTICIPATE
People started joining in, helping each other, and finding joy.
5 BELONG
At the Christmas concert, they were no longer alone—they were on stage.
02
FROM THE MARGINS TO THE STAGE
Through music, people discovered confidence, purpose, and a place where they truly belonged.
◎BE SEEN→♧JOIN→♫REHEARSE→☆PERFORM
In 2025, we organized a homeless choir and sharing concert. They were not just invited to the audience—invited onto the stage.
03
COMMUNITY ACROSS CULTURES
We create spaces where people from different backgrounds can celebrate culture and build friendships.
◉FESTIVALS→♨MEALS→♧OUTINGS→☆SPORTS DAY
From Chuseok meals to family outings and sports days, we build communities where everyone feels at home.
THE DETAILS
FOUR STORIES OF BELONGING
01
A JOURNEY FROM ISOLATION TO BELONGING
The first step outside began with someone returning.
THE CRISISIn one of Incheon’s most economically vulnerable neighborhoods, severe social withdrawal and suicide risk had become a serious community concern. Some residents had not left their homes for three or four months; others had remained inside for as long as six.THE WORKWorking with Incheon Seo-gu Office, I joined weekly outreach visits to residents identified as needing support. We brought meals, listened without pressure, and gently invited them to take one step beyond their doors. At first, many would not engage. After two or three months of consistent visits, they began to talk, attend small-group gatherings, and share meals with others.THE TURNING POINTWe concluded the project with a concert created for the participants—not simply as an audience, but as performers. Several stood onstage and sang. Watching people who had once been unable to cross their own thresholds find the courage to face a crowd was deeply moving.WHAT I CARRIED FORWARDI documented the project in a journal for my school Personal Project. Writing about each visit helped me understand that trust cannot be rushed or measured by a single event. Sometimes meaningful change begins because someone keeps returning long enough for a closed door to open.
02
FROM THE JJOKBANG VILLAGE TO THE STAGE
A meal opened the door. Music carried them to the stage.
THE BEGINNINGI first met older adults living alone in a jjokbang village while delivering lunch boxes. Many were living with deep hardship and little hope. I kept returning—not only with meals, but to listen, remember their stories, and build trust over time.THE JOURNEYThose visits eventually grew into an invitation to sing. Through rehearsals and encouragement, people who had rarely felt seen stepped onto a concert stage. Some were so overwhelmed that they could not finish singing, while the audience raised hundreds of phone lights and waved them in support.WHAT I LEARNEDAfterward, several performers told us it had become one of the happiest memories of their lives. I felt deeply proud, but I also learned that dignity is more than meeting an immediate need. It is helping people feel seen, celebrated, and capable of hope again.
03
COMMUNITY ACROSS CULTURES
Shared experiences made difference feel familiar.
THE DISTANCELanguage, culture, and unfamiliar surroundings could make migrant families feel separated from the communities around them.OUR RESPONSEFestivals, shared meals, outings, and sports days created relaxed spaces where people could meet as neighbors and build friendships naturally.WHAT I LEARNEDCommunity does not require everyone to be the same. It grows when differences are welcomed and people have something meaningful to experience together.
04
FROM SERVICE TO STORYTELLING
I wanted people at school to see the lives that often remain unseen.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ISSUEThrough volunteering, I had met immigrant families, people experiencing extreme social withdrawal, and older adults facing homelessness. Their circumstances were different, but each group could become invisible within the community. I wanted to understand the forces behind that isolation and bring greater attention to their stories.WHAT I WITNESSEDI saw how language barriers, unstable living conditions, and long periods of isolation could narrow a person’s world. I also saw that change rarely happened through a single visit. Trust began to grow when people returned, listened, shared meals, and stayed present over time.WHAT CHANGED IN MY THINKINGAt first, I thought helping mainly meant providing something that was missing. The people I met taught me that support also means recognizing someone’s dignity, listening without judgment, and creating a place where they can participate rather than remain only recipients of help.WHAT I LEARNED WHILE CREATING THE JOURNALResearching and creating the 12-page journal, Illuminate the Way Forward, taught me to connect evidence with lived experience. I learned that representing vulnerable communities carries responsibility: facts require careful sources, photographs require respect, and writing should make people visible without reducing them to their hardships.AFTER THE PRESENTATIONPresenting the journal for my school Personal Project turned a private reflection into a public conversation. Explaining my research and creative choices helped me realize that storytelling can also be a form of service—one that invites other people to notice, question, and care.
WHAT I LEARNEDBelonging cannot be delivered. It has to be built.
It grows through consistency, trust, shared experiences, and the feeling that your presence matters.
One person can’t do everything, but everyone can do something.
HOME › SCIENCE & HEALTH
SCIENCE & HEALTH
Curiosity leads to understanding.
Understanding leads to better care.
I am driven by a deep curiosity about how the human body works, why disease occurs, and how science can improve lives. Through rigorous study, research, and clinical observation, I continue to explore the science behind health and medicine.
— Grace Jo
“Science helps us ask the right questions. Health gives us the purpose to find better answers.”— Grace Jo
BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY
Building a Scientific FoundationIB Biology HL and Chemistry HL have deepened my understanding of life at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels.
EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUB
Understanding Health at ScaleIn the Epidemiology Research Club, I explore disease patterns, risk factors, and health inequalities to understand how we can improve population health.
Research Question
Why do certain communities experience higher rates of chronic disease?
⌕Questions→▥Patterns→◔Evidence→♧Population
Health
Health
Association between air quality and asthma ER visits
Top Factors Identified
Air quality · Income level · Access to care
and recommendations
BIOLOGY EXPLORATION
Challenge. Explore. Grow.I enjoy challenging myself with complex biology problems and using diagrams, questions, and written explanations to deepen my understanding of biological systems. Every note shown below was handwritten and organized by me as part of my own study process.
CLINICAL OBSERVATION
Learning from Real-World MedicineThrough clinical shadowing and patient support volunteering, I observed how healthcare teams collaborate and how patient-centered care makes a difference.
Key Takeaways♧ Healthcare is a team effort.♡ Communication and compassion are essential.◇ Access to care remains unequal, and that must change.
MY ONGOING JOURNEY
Always learning. Always growing.
2021–2022Curiosity BeginsFell in love with science through questions about the body.2023–2024Building FoundationsStrengthened science foundations through rigorous coursework.2024–2025Exploring & DiscoveringExplored research, biology competitions, and new interests.2025–2026Applying & ServingApplied knowledge through research, observation, and service.2026Continuing ForwardDeepening understanding and seeking lasting impact.
“The more I learn about science,
the more I want to use it for others.”— Grace Jo
HOME › LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
Turning ideas into action —
and bringing people with me.
I believe leadership is not about titles. It’s about seeing a need, inspiring others, and working together to create real change.
♧EmpathyI listen and understand.☼InitiativeI see problems and act.⌘CollaborationI bring people together.♡ImpactI create meaningful change.
FOUR WAYS I LEAD
Different spaces. Same purpose.
BUILD
Building InitiativesThat Create Change
Community & Foundation Leadership
I founded a foundation to support underserved communities and expanded it into sustainable programs.
- Connected with medical and arts professionals
- Planned projects including medical support and home improvement
- Created a job-training café and supported children in Africa
I start with a question,
and I build the way forward.
TEACH
Teaching Skills.Inspiring Growth.
Hello World Coding Club Leader
I lead an after-school coding club for elementary students, helping them discover problem-solving and creativity.
- Taught coding concepts to Grades 2–5
- Designed lessons that build confidence and curiosity
- Encouraged collaboration and logical thinking
Leadership is helping others
discover what they can do.
CREATE
Creating Community.Sharing Through Music.
Crescendo Ensemble Founder & Leader
I founded Crescendo to bring student musicians together and share music with communities.
- Recruited student musicians and organized rehearsals
- Planned and performed community concerts
- Used music to bring joy and connection to others
Music connects us.
Leadership makes it possible.
LEAD
TOGETHER
Leading on the Court.Growing as a Team.
Varsity Tennis Captain
As team captain, I lead by example, support my teammates, and help build a strong team culture.
- Captain of the Varsity Tennis Team
- Fostered teamwork and sportsmanship
- Communicated goals and supported every teammate
We compete together.
We grow together.
MUSICIANSHIP & COLLABORATION
KIMEA Honor Orchestra
Selected through audition to perform with accomplished student musicians from across Korea.SELECTIONChosen as one of Chadwick’s musicians through a competitive audition.MY ROLEPerformed viola in a full honor orchestra, listening closely and contributing to a shared interpretation.WHAT I LEARNEDMusicianship grows through discipline, responsiveness, and trust in the ensemble.
LEADERSHIP IN MOMENTS
Real people. Real impact. Real memories.
THE STORIES
FOUR STORIES OF LEADERSHIP
01
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
An idea became a place where support could continue.
THE BEGINNINGI wanted service to become more consistent than a single event. Building a foundation meant bringing adults, professionals, volunteers, and community needs into one shared plan.BUILDING THE CAFÉThe café grew from the idea that support should also create opportunity. I helped shape a welcoming space where people with disabilities and social isolation could gain work experience, participate in the community, and move toward greater independence.CREATING THE EDUCATION CENTERThe education center created a lasting base for learning and community programs. Developing it required planning the space, coordinating people and resources, and thinking about how each program could continue after opening day.WHAT I LEARNEDLeadership is not only starting something. It is building the people, structure, and trust that allow an idea to keep serving others.
02
TEACHING WITH PURPOSE
Leadership meant helping younger students discover what they could do.
THE OPPORTUNITYCoding can feel intimidating when students encounter it only as a difficult technical subject. I wanted the first experience to feel creative, welcoming, and possible.MY ROLEThrough the Hello World Coding Club, I guided students in Grades 2–5, designed approachable activities, and adjusted each lesson as I learned how different students solved problems.WHAT I LEARNEDTeaching is not giving every answer. It is creating enough structure and encouragement for someone else to think independently.
03
CREATING THROUGH MUSIC
A group of musicians became a community with a shared purpose.
THE IDEAMusic offered a way for students to contribute together while sharing something meaningful with people beyond school.MY ROLEI founded Crescendo, recruited musicians, organized rehearsals, and helped turn individual preparation into performances shaped by a common goal.WHAT I LEARNEDCreative leadership depends on listening. A strong ensemble grows when each person is prepared, heard, and connected to the whole.
04
LEADING TOGETHER
A captain’s role was to help the whole team grow.
THE RESPONSIBILITYA team needs more than individual performance. It needs communication, consistency, and confidence in one another.MY ROLEAs Varsity Tennis Captain, I led by example, encouraged teammates through difficult moments, and helped keep our shared goals visible in practice and competition.WHAT I LEARNEDLeadership on the court is measured not only by a result, but by whether people become more confident and connected as a team.
My Promise
as a Leader“I will keep asking, learning, and acting.
I will listen, collaborate, and uplift others.
And I will use every opportunity to make a positive difference.”
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”— Helen Keller
HOME › ABOUT
ABOUT GRACE
Curious. Compassionate.
Always learning.
I’m Grace, a student who loves asking questions, connecting with people, and turning what I notice into action.
Whether I’m studying science, working with a community, leading a team, or exploring somewhere new, I’m most curious about people—how they live, what they need, and what we can learn from one another.
I may not have all the answers yet, but I will keep asking, keep learning, and keep showing up.
A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME
CURIOUS
I ask questions deeply and enjoy understanding how people, systems, and ideas work.
EMPATHETIC
I care about people and believe that listening is the first step toward meaningful help.
REFLECTIVE
I take time to learn from experience, notice what could improve, and grow from feedback.
ACTION-ORIENTED
I turn ideas into practical next steps because even small progress has to begin somewhere.
WHAT DRIVES ME
Understanding first.
Acting with purpose.
01Understanding the world through science and stories02Building connections across cultures and communities03Creating positive change where I can
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
The interests that keep me curious, grounded, and connected.
A space to reset, challenge myself, and enjoy growing alongside a team.
Books let me enter another mind and another world. Becoming an author is my second dream.
Playing teaches me to listen closely—to my own voice and to the people creating music beside me.
New places, people, and ways of living make me more observant and keep my perspective open.
Time to slow down, notice details, and encounter ideas beyond my own experience.
A part of everyday life that keeps me close to people and reminds me that care begins by showing up.
LOOKING AHEAD
“I don’t have it all figured out—and that’s okay.
I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I’m ready to keep learning, growing, and giving back.”
Still curious. Still learning. Still becoming.— Grace Jo
