Julia Leung

Background

About Julia Leung

At my very first job interview, I was asked, “If you could learn one thing right now, what would it be and why?” After mulling over my answer for a few seconds, I decided to risk sounding overly cliché in order to be honest. “I would want to learn how to make people happy, especially in these times when mental health is still stigmatized despite the fact that depression and other mental illnesses have become leading causes of disability worldwide. I held my breath, waiting for an adverse reaction to my cliché answer. But, my manager only smiled and jotted down a quick note. Later, at my new employee orientation, my manager told us that if we were present, it meant that we all had one thing in common: a desire to help people.As cliché as this desire may sound, I have used this core aspect of myself to define my undergraduate career. I recently completed Bachelor of Science degrees in Kinesiology and Psychology, proving myself as someone with a passion for exploring the intricacies involved with the physical body and intangible mind. A critical part of this passion is applying my knowledge to solving health issues: I wrote my senior thesis on using a psychophysiological approach to treat depression, and I have immersed myself in experiences that integrate my passion with an honest desire to better my community. • I have worked as a research assistant for psychology and kinesiology research labs where I led a study investigating children’s helping behaviors and assisted in a study exploring the relationship between anhedonia and exercise, respectively. • I have shadowed several physical therapists and learned the pivotal lesson that no matter how healed the body is physically, if the patient’s mindset isn’t conducive to healing, the problem will still persist. • I have filled my free time with volunteering in community service activities like making paper bag lunches for soup kitchens, cleaning up trash around campus and decorating cards for kids stuck in hospitals over the holidays.My academic and extracurricular pursuits have culminated in numerous awards and honors. I graduated summa cum laude from the School of Public Health and was honored as a Dean’s Senior Scholar for Kinesiology. I was also a recurring Dean’s List Honoree for all semesters in my undergraduate career.I am ready to move forward and apply the same tireless resolve that carried me through these past four years to a full-time position. I am confident that with my fearless determination, no challenge will prove too great for me to handle.