Suzanne Park said her Korean American parents expected her to one day become a doctor – instead, she became a writer. During her second year at Columbia University, the alumna found herself in an elevator with a cadaver during an internship and reconsidered her career trajectory. Read more...

Photo: Alumna Suzanne Park was originally pursuing a medical career. But after finding her comedic voice while touring her stand-up comedy, she decided to channel it into writing. (Courtesy of Joanna Degeneres)

Nicolette Khalifian said her senior year of high school was spent grappling with self-doubt – her healing process began on the notes app of her phone. Read more...

Photo: Second-year psychobiology student Nicolette Khalifian published her first book in February, which originally started as notes she took on her phone in high school. The book explores how to overcome mental blocks and offers exercises to facilitate the process. (Courtesy of Nicolette Khalifian)