Incoming freshman Andrew Kim comes to the Iovine and Young Academy from the Bay Area. He joins Cohort 8 as the founder of AUesome LLC, a startup that creates at-home therapy kits for children with autism to make therapy more accessible. As a designer and musician, Kim looks forward to meeting and working with talented individuals at the Academy and hopes to explore computer science and music production. 

Tell me a little bit about your journey to the Academy. What were you looking for in an undergraduate program?

The Academy has been a program I've wanted to join since the start of high school. I remember visiting the Garage four years ago, before Iovine and Young Hall was finished. I visited with my sister for her college tour and even sat down with Jessica Vernon to talk about the program and what it's like working in cohorts. I peeked through the glass of the Garage windows, staring at the dry erase mural and the sticky notes plastered across the walls. This was the only program that actually interested me when I followed my sister around for college visits. What makes this program perfect for me is twofold: 

First, the curriculum. I have a strong interest in art and design but I have an equally strong interest in business and entrepreneurship. When I'm not creating art and installations, I'm working on my startup AUesome LLC. When applying to colleges I was surprised to see that the Academy was truly one of a kind. No other program allowed me to use my art and business skills together like the Academy does. 

Second, is the community. When applying to colleges, I knew that I wanted a close-knit community where professors know my name and would be able to provide guidance when needed. As the student body president of my high school, building community was my main goal. Iovine and Young not only fosters a strong student-teacher bond, but also helps create valuable connections between the students through the cohort. The option to surround myself with the most talented and driven people was an opportunity I could not pass up.

What are you most looking forward to in the Academy? 

I'm looking forward to meeting all the other students and collaborating with them on projects. Though everyone in the Academy has different skill sets and levels of experience, we all share the same motivation. I'm excited for the late-night discussions, moments of realization and moments of satisfaction after succeeding at a task. The ability to easily find someone with the right skill set to help me out will enable me to freely create what I want. I hope to explore the realms of computer science and music production while in the Academy, as those are things I am passionate about but haven't gotten the opportunity to learn.

What are three goals you want to accomplish during your time at the Academy and USC? 

Always leave a positive impact on others and my cohort

Learn constantly by maintaining an open mind at all times

Do. Have an idea? Go for it. Never stop creating!

Let’s say you were miraculously provided $1,000,000 in seed funding tomorrow. What would you create?

I would create a custom 3D printed shoe/insole company for disadvantaged communities. My whole life, I've grown up with extremely flat feet causing me to have constant foot, ankle and knee pain. Though I was raised in a financially stable household, it was extremely hard for me to find shoes and insoles that perfectly matched the shape of my feet. I could only imagine how difficult it would be for those living in poverty to find comfortable footwear. With 3D scanning and printing technology, I hope to create a company that makes it easy and affordable for those with flat feet to find a comfortable cure. As technology advances, I hope to expand this to other prosthetics and assistive devices.

What is a good piece of advice you've received that you plan to apply throughout college? 

Find the silver lining in every situation. No matter how difficult things may be for you, there is a reason why things happened that way they did. Finding the good in the bad will allow you to persevere through the struggles and make it out victorious.

What is your proudest achievement to date? 

My proudest achievement to date is building a strong community within my high school class and the entire student body. Known for its extreme academic pressure, Gunn High School has been notoriously stressful on students. Being able to lower peoples’ guards and provide support for my classmates put me in a position where I could build and maintain strong connections.

A close runner-up though is being accepted into the Academy. Every project I worked on and every achievement I had was validated through my acceptance to the Academy. It was a sign that what I was doing was good and that I was on the right path.

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you.

Most people don't know that I love to make music. Last summer, I got a keyboard and a free trial of Logic Pro and tried producing my own music. Though I was terrible at working the software, I spent hours on my computer messing around with controls hoping to learn what they mean. I ended up writing a few rap songs and making a sampled beat!

What is one thing your parents taught you that you’d like to share?

One thing my parents taught me is to think smart, not hard. They've always taught me to think logically and make smart decisions rather than spontaneous ones. However, I'm still working on that because I rarely think before doing — I just do. 

Out of the five traits of a Trojan, which trait best describes you? 

“Courageous” best defines me because I've taught myself to never back down from any situation. Even if it ends up in failure, it is a good learning experience.

What is one skill/thing that you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic?

I've learned that I am more introverted than I had thought. I love time to myself to recover and recharge.

What is your favorite app/website and why? 

My favorite app right now is Apple’s Notes app. I use it every day to jot down ideas, to-dos and notes. Plus, it syncs up to my computer through iCloud so I can access it anywhere.

If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why? 

I'd be a refrigerator because I am a sentimental person and I love preserving old memories and experiences as long as they will last before they expire.

Motivated and driven people — everyone in the Academy!

Incoming freshman Andrew Kim comes to the Iovine and Young Academy from the Bay Area. He joins Cohort 8 as the founder of AUesome LLC, a startup that creates at-home therapy kits for children with autism to make therapy more accessible.

FRESH Encounters: Andrew Kim