MICHAEL HONG
About Me
What I Do
My Story
HELLO, I'M
MICHAEL HONG
Student Leader at Boston University
Contact
ABOUT ME
Hello! I'm Michael Hong, a Korean-American student studying Economics at Boston University. Having grown up in both the U.S. and South Korea, I became passionate about the intersection between geopoilitics and economics. These fields heavily influence everyday life—from grocery prices to national security—making it essential to understand how to navigate the risks and uncertainties that arise in an increasingly interconnected world. Therefore, I personally hope to make a meaningful impact in this area. I am currently looking for internship opportunities in related fields, especially politics and economics; I enjoy connecting with people who share similar interests, so feel free to reach out!
Education
Boston University Class of 2027
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Languages
Fluent: Korean, English
Proficient: Spanish
Media Skills
Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Microsoft PowerPoint
EXPERIENCES
BOSTON UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS
Admissions Ambassador
• Led guided campus tours for prospective students and families, highlighting Boston University’s student life and campus culture
• Promoted notable academic programs and faculty (e.g. public policy professors with CIA backgrounds) to enhance the university's appeal during tours
BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
College of Arts and Sciences Senator
• Elected twice consecutively as one of eight CAS Senators; launched a successful first-term Instagram campaign that garnered 50,000 views, 1,000 likes, 500 shares
• Directed $23,000+ in funding to 20+ student organizations through participation in Senate debates and votes during the 2024-25 year
Executive Staff Member
• Improved the class registration experience by producing a tutorial video that guided students through a non-user-friendly website interface
• Surveyed 500 students to identify registration challenges, wrote a summary report, and presented findings to student government leadership
MEDIA
(1) Photo with Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam, President of Boston University, before a 2024 Senate Meeting
(2) Representing Student Government during Boston University's Club Fair
(3) First Senate Meeting of the 2024-25 Year
MY "WHY"
"The hope that there's a place for even a short Korean kid with a silly name."
I ended a campaign rally speech at Marsh Plaza by borrowing a line from a famous 2004 speech, with the goal of inspiring a sense of hope and change at Boston University, when first running to become senator.
A couple days later, while looking for a table with my friends at the Marciano dining hall, I noticed that three tall guys were staring at me altogether. My immediate thought to myself was, "Am I about to get into a fight?" However, after a long moment of silence, one of them asked, "Are you Michael?" After I answered that I was, he offered to shake my hand and said, "I saw you on Instagram. You got my vote." It turned out that the three wanted to voice their support for my student government platform. It was just as simple as that.
The gesture, though simple, helped me finally discover my "why" for wanting to be elected senator and served as my motivation for the rest of the campaign period, which ultimately helped me get to hear my name at the announcement dinner a few weeks later. Yes, there was a place even for me, a short Korean kid with a silly name, here after all.
This remains my “why,”not just for representing students at Boston University, but also for striving to make the world a better place. As a Korean-American, I’ve often doubted if I truly belonged here, wondering if someone like me could be heard or even lead. But that moment in the dining hall—when a stranger shook my hand and said, “You got my vote”—reminded me that someone like me could not only be heard, but also make a difference through leadership.
My campaign affirmed the notion that there was a place even for me, a short Korean kid with a silly name. This is why I will continue to work to create meaningful impact in today's world—because each and every single one of us, no matter how “silly” our name sounds or how short we stand, deserves to have our voice heard, just as I had mine.
