Min Kim, DMSB'19, is a fourth year marketing major at Northeastern. He is taking over the D'Amore-McKim School Instagram account @damoremckim, giving us a peek through his lens. Read more about why Kim decided to pursue a marketing concentration, how he learned photography, and about his experience on co-op in Hong Kong below, and be sure to follow along beginning Monday, June 26, for a close-up look at his life at D'Amore-McKim.
Q: Tell us why you decided to come to Northeastern.
I decided to come to Northeastern mainly because of the co-op program and because I wanted to go somewhere relatively far from home (Philadelphia) and try something new. I actually began as an engineering major but after realizing that it wasn't a good fit for me, I decided to switch into D'Amore McKim. Although I wasn't sure about the concentrations at first, I was still interested in business and thought it was the most practical thing to do.
Q:How did you choose your concentration?
I chose marketing because I thought it would give me the most flexibility after graduation. I'm considering picking up a second concentration in supply chain or finance, but we'll see about that.
Q:How has photography influenced your interests, personally and/or professionally?
Without photography, my life would be much more dull. I got into it about two years ago and have been shooting consistently since. I knew nothing about photography and didn't even have a camera so I would borrow from my friends that owned one and tried to learn on my own. I watched countless YouTube videos that covered the basics, editing workflow, and other techniques, and it's been an ongoing process of trial and error of finding my own style. After traveling to Europe with my friends during spring break last year I decided to make my own website to share my photos and make a portfolio for myself. Eventually, I started shooting for others by word-of-mouth or from reaching out to people directly, and I have been really thankful for being paid for doing something I truly enjoy. Because the industry is extremely competitive/saturated, I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and will continue to do this as a side gig along with my full-time job after graduation.
Q: Tell us about your current Hong Kong co-op.
I work for the product development team in a sourcing company. I facilitate my team with the initial design stages and the following procurement process for prominent fashion brands. Everyone on the floor speaks English fluently, so there is no language barrier and the atmosphere is very family-like. My living transition has also been really smooth and the city is extremely suitable for expats.
Q:What has been your best experience at Northeastern to date?
The best experience so far has been my co-op in Hong Kong. The place is extremely convenient for traveling to other places in Asia, and I have been taking advantage of every holiday to travel to other countries because it's extremely cheap.
Q:How has your experience at D'Amore-McKim influenced what you plan on doing after graduation?
After living in Hong Kong for a few months, I would definitely be willing to come back to Asia after graduation. Living abroad in a place I have never been to before has been incredibly rewarding, and I think my experience will make it easier for me to go abroad again in the future. My dream job is working as a photographer full-time and making enough money to travel as often as I would like.
Q:What additional insight do you have for the D'Amore-McKim community?
Regardless of what major you study, I think there are numerous opportunities for students to go abroad, and everyone should take advantage of that. The experience is invaluable, and you will inevitably experience growth as a person because you are forced outside of your comfort zone. One of the most important things I have learned from my co-op experience in Hong Kong and traveling in Southeast Asia is that you don't need much to be happy. I saw so many people who would be considered to be living in poverty by Western standards, who were more willing to share the little they had and expect nothing in return. Travel more because it opens your eyes and gives you a new perspective in life!
Q: What do you plan to share during your takeover?
I'll share some of the pictures I have taken during my travels in Asia, as well as some from my personal travels from last year.
Follow @damoremckim on Instagram for a closer look at Min Kim's experience at Northeastern, beginning Monday, June 26.
Instagram Takeover with Min Kim, DMSB'19
Day 1: Hi, it's Min!
Day 2: Rainy days in Tapei, Tawain
Day 3: Taroko Gorge
Day 4: Take a dive
Day 5: Flashback Friday
Day 6: Hiking Hong Kong
Day 7: Last post!