Alyson Kung
Korea YAV 2015-16
My name is Alyson! The youngest of four, I was born and raised in the Chicago land area. I went to the University of Illinois at Chicago and received my BFA in Industrial Design in 2013. During my time there I was heavily involved in the Asian American community, I was an orientation leader, and studied abroad to Melbourne, Australia.
Since graduation I’ve held a tossed salad of jobs including working at UIC’s women’s center, Uber, YMCA drop-in daycare, selling roses, pet sitting, and working as a file clerk for an insurance company. I’ve spent some of that time unemployed going through the roller coaster of life, searching for meaning, and getting my feet back underneath me.
Extremely curious, I’m always questioning how things are and why they are the way they are. I am fascinated with biotechnology and public health, and have insatiable wanderlust. I have a terrible sense of smell, and I probably share too much for my own good. For my life I hope to be a force of good in an ever changing world, creating inclusive spaces for people, and helping build (and be a part of) strong, loving communities.
The Young Adult Volunteer program was an answer to a prayer for me. I hope to spend my life learning about people and culture, and dedicating my life to service to others. The YAV program provides a supportive first step into this world with a framework of reflection and social justice, and very importantly respect for those we work with. I have had two years time to reflect on if this was the path I’ve been called to walk, and now here I am.
