Andrew and Joon are the most adorable duo I have had the pleasure of meeting and the only Campus Profiles to request to do a joint interview. I dare you to read this without smiling or saying “Aww!”
How did you two meet?
Andrew: “I was in Korea over the summer before college and I wanted to make some friends before I entered Amherst. I saw this one kid who commented on my Facebook post in the Class of 2018 page so I decided to get lunch with him. We hit it off from there.”
Joon: “We went to a dog cafe together where we played with dogs and talked about our problems.”
Andrew: “I feel like we really connected at that cafe. Joon looked into my eyes for a brief moment and my heart skipped a beat.”
Joon: “I tried to invite him to a Korean bathhouse on that first day but I figured we were moving too fast.”
Andrew: *laughs* “Yeah, at least take me to dinner first.”
What are some similarities and differences between you two?
Joon: “I feel like I’m more of an introverted extrovert, while Andrew is an extroverted introvert.”
Andrew: “Yeah…that sounds about right. We’re also both Math & History double majors, but I’m studying American history while Joon is studying colonialism.”
Joon: “The similarities between us are a little uncanny. We were born in two different hospitals but on the same street, and not only are we the eldest in our respective families, but our fathers are also the eldest in their families. Filial duty is a pretty big thing in Korean culture, and duty to parents and responsibility over younger siblings is a big factor that we share in our lives.”
Andrew: “Our personalities are so similar yet so different, and they end up clashing a lot when we share the same social space. When it comes down to it, Joon and I have vastly different interests. That’s why we’ve made an effort to differentiate ourselves on campus instead of always sticking together.”
Joon: “I think we did that subconsciously. We share the same double major but the only class we ever took together was a calculus class first semester Freshman year. Surprisingly, only one of the activities that we do on campus overlap.”
What’s your favorite restaurant in town?
Joon: “Amherst Chinese.”
Andrew: “Definitely AmChi.”
Joon: “I love this question. Make sure to order the fillets of fish in chili peppercorn broth when you’re there.”
What is your favorite memory together?
Andrew: “There’s a lot… but I would say rooming together over commencement & reunion last year is definitely my favorite memory. I think that’s when we realized we can never be roommates because we never get our stuff done. For the two weeks we were roommates, we went on random adventures in town, ate whenever we wanted to, slept until 2PM, skyped our respective families back home, and shared stories about our lives. The two weeks honestly felt like two days.”
Joon: “I had my birthday during commencement/reunion last year. Andrew rented an AAS van for the day and as soon as we got off work for the day, we drove to Boston to get Korean food. On the way there we talked about all kinds of things, ranging from high school prom stories to our relationship with our grandparents. There’s never an awkward moment between us. Even though our phones died on the way back and we had to navigate our way home on Daniel Shays Highway in the dark, I remember feeling very content in that moment. It was probably the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
Is there anything you envy about the other person?
Joon: “Andrew is the kind of guy that commands a scene presence, both in individual and group settings. He can go up to people and it only takes a couple words for them to immediately want to be his friend. I love getting to know new people but Andrew draws people in effortlessly. There are times in which I honestly feel like Andrew is a better version of myself. People confuse us all the time, and I find that confusion flattering. He has an incredible work ethic and combines his natural talents with a natural inclination to humility. I don’t think it’s envy though – I actually look to him to become a better person and I think that’s an incredible thing to have in a friendship.”
Andrew: “Like Joon mentioned earlier, I consider myself an extroverted introvert, which means I get pretty tired of social contact after the initial impression. I’m constantly amazed by how Joon goes out of his way to ensure everybody is included and engaged in the conversation. There is never a dull moment when you talk to him because he will make sure that he puts every effort into conversing with others that doesn’t just end at a surface-level chitchat but a deep, introspective discussion. He also lives life to the fullest. Sometimes, I just try to get by and do the bare minimum, but for him, everyday is a clean slate to meet new people and discover new ideas. His sense of vigor is infectious, and I’ve seen him influence many people on campus in positive ways, including me. Spending time with Joon has made me want to read more, try out new hobbies, and reflect on my academic interests. He is the first friend I met that challenges the way I think, the way I see the world, and the way I interact with others.
What do you think your friendship will look like in the future?
Joon: “Andrew and I made a promise to have kids at the same time so our kids can grow up together.”
Andrew: “The exact same time.”
Joon: “In all seriousness, we made a pact to assume responsibility for the other’s kids if something were to happen to either of us. We’d raise them as if they were our own.”
Andrew: “We always hype each other up and feed off of each other’s energy, and I really hope that continues for a really, really long time.”
Joon: “I hope our kids will be the same way.”