Vol. 1 [UT Member Interview] 🎤Ji Hyun Ahn (GER '21) Part 1 of 2

To kick off our UT community interview series—and to meet our first deadline—we’re starting with a self-interview from Editor-in-Chief Ji Hyun Ahn (GER ’21).

The How for the UT Member Interviews
🗒️We are conducting two sets of interviews with each UT community member.
🗒️One part of the interview aims to get to know them better on a personal level.
🗒️The other part sheds light on them as an expert in their professional career.

Below is Part I of the interviews with Ji Hyun Ahn (GER '21).

🗞️ How do you usually start your day?
I like to begin with a warm cup of tea. It helps me wake up gently and sets a calm tone for the day. Depending on my mood, it might be green tea, black tea, rooibos, or chamomile.

🗞️ Is there a habit from your university days that you still keep?
I started drinking genmaicha while I was studying in Texas. A friend and neighbors loved it, and I became curious enough to try it myself—sometimes even hunting it down at Hanyang Market. These days, I still reach for genmaicha or hojicha.

I also began exercising regularly in Texas and have kept that up back in Korea. I used to work out at Gregory Gym and go running around my neighborhood. Now I use my apartment gym and still run when I can—although, admittedly, not this month (tragic).

🗞️ Is there a place on campus you remember especially well?
PCL comes to mind right away. I remember watching the squirrels out front—especially during the intense Texas heat, when they’d lie completely flat on the pavement. I always wondered if that actually made them any cooler. PCL was also right in front of the building where I taught morning German classes, so I spent quite a bit of time there.

🗞️ Has work changed the way you see people or life?
After graduation, I moved into industry and began working on NLP projects for a tech company. That shift pushed me to value speed and efficiency more than before. As a student, especially when writing research papers, I leaned toward perfectionism—almost like an artist pouring all my time and energy into one result. With SXSK, I hope to build something sustainable: work that’s efficient yet consistently high in quality.

🗞️ If you had a completely free day, how would you spend it?
I’d devote it to my dog. I’d prepare meals and snacks slowly, enjoy a peaceful walk in the sunlight, maybe take a long nap together. I’d also love to sit at a dog-friendly café with her, read a novel I’ve been meaning to start, and sip good tea without checking the time.

🗞️ What kind of work gives you meaning?
I want to see SXSK grow and thrive.

🗞️ What brought you into alumni association activities?
It started with a call for female runners for the Alumni Cup. I joined the running event, trained with the group, and met our wonderful president and executive team. That led me to join the social committee and serve as running coordinator. It is such a huge honor for me to be able to contribute as SXSK’s editor-in-chief.

🗞️ What do you value most about being connected with alumni in Korea?
Even being far from campus, it’s comforting to feel that the connection to UT—and to fellow alumni—remains strong. We get to build networks, revisit shared memories of Texas, and imagine future possibilities together.

🗞️ What do you appreciate about your current city or daily life?
I love that Olive Young stores are within walking distance almost anywhere in Seoul. I don’t wear much makeup and have sensitive skin, so I rarely switch products, but I’m still very interested in beauty trends. I enjoy browsing seasonal displays and observing what’s trending. For example, BB cream has made a comeback recently, and it’s fascinating to see new variations—green-tinted formulas, PDRN-infused versions, and a wider shade range than before.

🗞️ Is there something about you alumni might not know yet?
Believe it or not, I’m funnier than I look (or so my friends insist). I like making people laugh. Nothing too dramatic, just enough to lighten the mood.