Daniel Bae

Daniel Bae, Sophomore

Born: 1988 in Incheon, South Korea

Has lived in: Korea, South Africa, USA

Major: Either Chemistry or Biochemistry

I was born in Incheon, South Korea in 1988, and when I was six years old our family moved to South Africa. My dad worked as a missionary there, so I’m otherwise known as a MK or “Missionary-Kid”. I spent the next 10 years in South Africa before moving here to Portland, Oregon. My brother, Joseph, began attending Lewis and Clark in 2004, and in 2006 it was also time for me to go to college.

The biggest issue our family faced was the cost. Everyone in our family still had visas, so I had to apply as an international student even though I’d graduated high school in America. Without federal aid I had to look toward colleges that would provide private scholarships. Fortunately, Lewis and Clark recognized my need and offered numerous scholarships and international grants that many other colleges did not. The college was also ten minutes away from home, and by commuting I would save even more on costs.

Other than the financial issue of college, I also needed an institution which could provide an in-depth science program. My brother is a Biochemistry major, and he really enjoyed working with the L&C professors, who he described as “funny, eccentric and sincere.” I couldn’t agree more after coming here and taking their courses. The professors are extremely humorous and enjoy talking to students both at an academic and personal level. They always try to include everyone in class and encourage students to visit them outside of class, which shows how much they value their relationships with students. Other than the faculty, I also heard about numerous research and internship opportunities available to undergraduates. This is useful for people who are interested the sciences, especially those who plan on graduate school like me. Not only did Lewis and Clark provide an affordable education, but it also fit me perfectly in my academic interests.

The last and most important thing that I needed out of a college was a balanced social life. I was worried because I was going to commute during my freshman year, but once I arrived on campus I immediately found new friends, many of whom share my experiences as either a TCK or an international student. Lewis and Clark also provided a vast collection of activities, which I immediately took advantage of. Right now I’m the TCK representative for ISLC and am actively involved in club soccer, ping pong club, orchestra and the TCK board. There’s just so much to do on campus, even if you are a commuter or an international student.

Next year I plan to work as an RA in one of the dorms, so that I can experience dorm life (and also get away from my parents). I also want to study abroad, preferably somewhere in Europe, during my junior or senior year.