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Paul Joonho Lee

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: “The Foundation has shaped me in many ways.” Paul participated in a myriad of summer programs as a Young Scholar. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s Art and Craft of Essay Writing program was the first. Since that experience, Paul has attended a number of summer programs hosted by various colleges’ forensic unions. He also is appreciative of his relationship with his educational adviser. “My educational adviser helped me explore my interests and for this, I am truly grateful.”

Profile: Paul is a walking, talking advertisement for his hometown, New York, New York. When the Foundation asked Paul about his favorite hobby, he didn’t skip a beat: “My favorite pastime is exploring New York City and taking advantage of everything that goes on in the city,” from the Public Library, to Greenwich Village to Broadway to Madison Square Garden, to just riding the subway. He said he feels fortunate that he was able to attend Stuyvesant High School, one of the top academic institutions in New York City, if not the United States. “Attending Stuyvesant,” Paul related, “a school that prides itself in its strong academics, I was pushed beyond the comfortable boundaries that I was used to.” Paul welcomed the academic challenges and competition that he faced at Stuyvesant.

Inspiration: It is very difficult to name just one teacher that has inspired him over the years, but there have been many. “I’ve been lucky to have had a number of great teachers and mentors who have helped me out throughout my time in high school,” he said.

Aspiration: The future is wide open for Paul. As he embarks upon his college career, he’s currently thinking about a career in public service.

Making a Difference: Elected both junior class president, then student body president his senior year, Paul had a major impact on how the school spent limited resources on extracurricular activities. He also attempted to bring more diversity to the student government. Another accomplishment and something Paul is quite proud of was being the producer of a successful theatrical event on campus called “SING!”

Accolades: Paul was named an AP Scholar at his high school, no easy fete at Stuyvesant High. He was also a champion debater, winning ribbons in various competitions in the Metropolitan area and throughout New York State

Interesting fact: At one point at a very early age Paul thought that the casinos in Las Vegas or Atlantic City were in his future. “I was convinced that I should become a professional poker player. I devoted a lot of time intensively learning the ins and outs of the game, before I decided that with an education there were bigger and better opportunities for the future.”
 

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