World traveler Ejun Hong C’25 has found a new home base at Penn, along with a supportive community that encourages her growth and discovery. Ejun’s experiences growing up in Canada and South Korea and attending high school in Slovakia have gifted her a unique perspective and appreciation for distinct cultures—and have helped inform her academic trajectory. “While moving through different countries, I encountered a lot of people from diverse backgrounds—refugees, indigenous folks, and others from under-resourced groups. Hearing their stories has inspired me to give back to community and shaped who I am as an artist and as a student.”
As a young child, Ejun was diagnosed with an unidentifiable eye disorder that has caused numerous challenges throughout her life—while simultaneously defining her role as an artist and storyteller. “It was really scary to be faced with the possibility of losing my eyesight, especially as a young visual artist. Art helped me rekindle my dreams and move through my fears during this challenging time. After taking a break from my studies in high school, I recovered from my disorder, but my experiences still inform what I create—including my animations detailing personal hardships, the struggles of others, and societal issues.”
As she pursues her double major in Fine Arts and Cinema and Media Studies and her minor in Design, Ejun is honing her innate talents while developing new skills and expanding her creative horizons. “I’m very passionate about animation, and Penn’s Fine Arts department offers a robust selection of classes, including hand-drawn animation, computer animation, environmental animation, and much more. Penn also offers financial aid to Canadian citizens, which made it possible for me to attend in the first place.”
In collaboration with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, Ejun founded the Participatory Action Art Mentorship Program. Through this program, Ejun and her team visit West Philadelphia’s Sayre High School each week to mentor students in the disciplines of animation, architecture, and design. “These students don’t have access to the same resources we do at Penn, and this program allows us to engage with the community and share the transformative power of art.” In addition to teaching and sharing skills, Program mentors help students build confidence in their talents, offer networking opportunities, and coordinate visits with industrial professionals to educate them about careers in the arts. “I’ve been so inspired by the students at Sayre. They have shared with me how the program has impacted them and encouraged their creativity, and that has always been my biggest goal. I want them to know—like Walt Disney said—if they can dream it, they can do it.”
Ejun is grateful for the home she has found at Penn, and for the alumni donors who have made her education possible. “I believe everyone ends up in a place they belong, and I think Penn is where I belong. I’m so thankful for the ways in which alumni support current students and guide us through our dreams.”
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