Hi, I’m Songyih! I am a thoughtful, organized, and considerate pharmacy student at Rutgers who values maintaining a quiet, clean, and relaxing environment. Outside of my academic and clinical studies, I enjoy cooking comforting meals, staying active, and relaxing with creative hobbies like drawing and music. As a host, I aim to provide a comfortable, respectful, and stress-free stay for every guest, and I am always happy to share local recommendations or give you plenty of personal space to recharge.

Hometown

New York, Scardsale

Major(s)

Pharmacy

Minor(s)

N​/​A

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Throughout my time at Rutgers, I have been deeply involved in professional pharmacy organizations, taking on progressive leadership responsibilities that support student development and healthcare advocacy. Within the Industry Pharmacist Organization (IPhO), I currently serve as the Professional Development Committee Chair leading the Internship Mentorship Program and career-readiness workshops, having previously served as Director of Finances and Fundraising (Treasurer), Fundraising Committee Chair, and an iLead Mentee. In the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), I contributed as a Patient Care Committee Election Board member, Patient Care Committee Chair, and Pre-Professional Liaison, where I created educational resources like the Managed Matters hub and organized patient advocacy panels. Outside of academic organizations, I also remain engaged on campus through my work with Career Exploration and Success and actively serve my local community as a Worship Team singer and Newcomers Ministry member at Calvary Korean United Methodist Church.

Describe your college experience

Transitioning into college and navigating the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Rutgers University has been a transformative experience marked by substantial academic and personal growth. Moving from the foundational sciences into an intensive professional curriculum required me to adapt quickly, evolving from passive memorization to analytical, proactive problem-solving. Over the past few years, my experience has expanded beyond lecture halls into hands-on clinical training through my IPPE rotations at Children's Specialized Hospital and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, as well as on-campus professional roles. Immersing myself in research on healthcare disparities, assisting peers as a Customer Relations Intern, and collaborating closely with classmates and faculty have shaped my college journey into a rewarding balance of rigorous clinical discipline, mentorship, and purposeful leadership.

Tip for future students

My biggest tip for future students is to intentionally seek out mentorship early and embrace the fact that you do not have to navigate college alone. Entering a demanding university program can easily feel overwhelming, but actively connecting with upperclassmen, faculty, and student organization leaders through mentorship programs makes a profound difference in finding direction and managing your workload. It is equally important to balance academic discipline with proactive involvement outside the classroom; joining professional organizations and taking on small leadership roles early will open far more doors, perspectives, and genuine friendships than just focusing on grades alone. Above all, give yourself grace during the initial adjustment and trust that building steady daily habits will carry you through any challenging semester.

Favorite class

Organic Chemistry at Rutgers has to be my favorite class. While it has a reputation for being one of the most intense weed-out courses, getting through Rutgers Orgo was easily the most rewarding academic experience. It completely shifted how I approach studying and problem solving. Instead of straightforward memorization, it felt like learning an entirely new visual language, where you have to predict how electrons move, break down complex multi-step syntheses, and understand reaction mechanisms piece by piece. Mastering the logic behind how molecules interact gave me a whole new level of confidence. That foundational problem-solving mindset and chemical intuition became the backbone for everything that followed in pharmacy school, from medicinal chemistry to understanding how drugs actually work in the body. Conquering Rutgers Organic Chemistry proved that with the right strategy and persistence, you can handle any academic challenge thrown your way.

Career goals

After completing my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, I hope to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on areas such as market access, commercial strategy, health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), or oncology clinical development. Through my academic involvement with IPhO and AMCP, clinical rotations in specialized healthcare settings, and health equity research evaluating clinical trial access, I have grown passionate about bridging clinical evidence with systemic patient access. My long-term goal is to work within cross-functional teams to design patient-centered market strategies, optimize medication access, and help innovative, life-saving therapies reach diverse patient populations efficiently and equitably.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night is disconnecting from the academic rush to recharge through simple creative comforts and good food. After long days of classes and rotations, I love taking the time to cook a comforting, homemade Korean meal, which always feels grounding and therapeutic. Afterwards, I unwind by catching up on an engaging animated series, putting time into drawing or editing videos, or singing and practicing music. Taking a relaxed evening to step back from deadlines, focus on personal hobbies, and enjoy a quiet, cozy night gives me the exact mental reset I need to return to professional work with fresh energy and focus.

High school or secondary school

Edgemont High School

Previous college

N​/​A

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite place on campus is the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (EMSOP) building, William Levine Hall. It serves as the central anchor of my college experience, housing everything from rigorous professional lectures and lab work to the collaborative student organization spaces where my peers and I bring initiatives to life. It is a unique environment where faculty, mentors, and driven classmates constantly cross paths, turning quiet study corners into collaborative discussions and spontaneous networking moments. Having a dedicated space that blends rigorous academic preparation with a warm, tight-knit community makes the large Rutgers campus feel like home and continuously reminds me of my shared passion and purpose in pharmacy.