By Jasmyn Genchev

Do you ever imagine that one day you could be doing the one thing you always dreamed of doing? Without being told that what you love doing is impossible, or that your interests will never benefit the world around you? These dreams are starting to conform into reality for TPA alum and upcoming Notre Dame graduate Jeremy Cappello Lee, who also recently received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

The Fulbright Program is a flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program was designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, supported and operating in over 160 countries worldwide since 1946.

In that time the Fulbright Program has given more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, professionals, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, research, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns and critical global challenges.

Alumni of the Fulbright Program have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 82 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

Jeremy was awarded a two-year master’s degree scholarship program to study global affairs at Yonsei University, South Korea, one of the three possible Fulbright Scholarship types, the others being a one-year research grant, and a one-year English teaching-assistantship. But, just being eligible for this honorable achievement is something to admire, let alone an acceptance. The Fulbright requires an extensive application, including a personal statement and a project proposal. While grades, recommendations, and extracurriculars are all important, the most important aspect is the project proposal, which outlines one’s course of study in the region.

Before his application, Jeremy spent eight months in Seoul after graduating from Tempe Prep and before enrolling at Notre Dame. He studied intensive Korean at a university in Seoul for six months, all while traveling throughout the country and East Asia, and volunteering with a non-profit organization working on human rights issues.

“The experience was challenging and rewarding” Jeremy says, “I had to learn the language, adjust to a new cultural environment, and make new friends in a relatively short period of time. These are all important skills to develop.”

Jeremy believes his year in South Korea especially strengthened his Fulbright application, because it demonstrated his interest in the region, through both language proficiency and involvement with local non-government organizations. Because of his experience with the East Asian culture, Jeremy was able to create a very specific project proposal for his Fulbright application from his knowledge of Korean academic, business, and cultural institutions. He says that “living in Seoul gave my proposal a lot more credibility, because I knew about the country through first-hand experience.”

Looking ahead, Jeremy plans to use his philosophy and East Asian studies major to work in consulting or marketing, with an emphasis on developing markets. Jeremy says that the Fulbright scholarship is an ideal transition between his undergraduate interests and future goals. With it he will be able to take courses in economics, finance, and management that will develop regional expertise, but it will also give Jeremy an especially good platform to learn more about how businesses operate in Asia and build professional experience through possible internships in Seoul in the future.

As he reflects on his last four-years of college, Jeremy believes Notre Dame was a great choice for him because of its research and liberal arts emphasis with a distinct cultural identity. “The school provides a lot of opportunities and support for students, so it’s a place where you can find something that interests you and run with it.”

So, to all of those who strive to reach great places and want to do great things, Jeremy says, “It’s important to pursue what interests you. Try lots of things in college and then choose whatever thing you find yourself enjoying most. Figuring out what you don’t like doing is just as important as figuring out what you like. Try to parlay your interests into academic or internship opportunities. Basically, it’s about finding that sweet spot between what you like, what you’re good at, and what you want to do in the future.”

Maybe that one dream of doing the one thing you always wanted to do isn’t so impossible after all. So, go out there! Follow what you love doing, you’ll be amazed how much the world can benefit from your passions as well.