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Young Seol

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Young Seol said each of the many summer programs he participated in were special in their own way. Be it the Center for Talented Youth Program at Johns Hopkins University, an organic chemistry class at Northwestern University, or other advanced study sessions at Stanford, the University of Chicago and Yale – they all helped mold Young into the brilliant student and outgoing gentleman he’s become.

Profile: Young believes in and loves the community of Iowa City, a college town that embraced his family when they arrived from South Korea in the mid-1990s. So it’s no surprise that Young turned down a scholarship to one of the most prestigious prep schools in the nation to stay at home. It’s also not a surprise that in 2008 when the Iowa River threatened to flood its banks that Young was one of the first volunteers on site filling sandbags to protect his neighbors’ property. The Seol family home was safely located more than a mile away from the river that meanders through Iowa City, but that didn’t matter to Young. The University of Iowa, which unfortunately didn’t escape the damaging floodwaters, is also a special place to Young who at the ripe old age of 10 began taking undergraduate then graduate level classes in chemistry and mathematics there.

Inspiration: Young was taught never to fear failure and lived by a well-known and oft-repeated quote from the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.” That sage advice was his battle cry as he overloaded himself with AP level high school courses and graduate-level mathematics courses at the University of Iowa. At the same time he also participated in daily Kumdo, the Korean martial art of sword fighting, as well as tennis and violin lessons. He eventually could no longer maintain the schedule and the experience taught him the shortcomings of the Nietzsche’s philosophy. “But it also led me to the best advice I have ever received: while that which does not kill me might make me stronger, exercising wisdom can prove even more beneficial.”

Aspiration: Young currently is leaning toward a career in academia as a research professor.

Making a Difference: If there is a service project in Iowa City that needs doing, Young will probably answer the call to help. In addition to helping with the flood-control efforts in 2008, Young has volunteered at the Iowa City Public Library and is a junior volunteer at the University of Iowa Hospital.

Accolades: Young is proud of his nomination as the local Youth Salute program’s “Leader for Tomorrow.” He also was named to the AP and National Honor Societies and was a medal winner at regional mathematics competitions. During his junior year at Iowa City’s West High School he was named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist and finished in the Top 10 nationally in the International Brain Bee competition.

Interesting fact: Young rejected a scholarship offer to attend an elite New England prep school. One reason was his love for his adopted hometown of Iowa City. The other reason was because he had a one-year old baby sister and he didn’t want to miss the chance to see her grow up.
 

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