TRANSCRIPT:
CAMPBELL: Enoch Jo began his studies at UCLA two years ago, when he was just sixteen years old. This June, the second-year atmospheric sciences student will graduate as the youngest member of the class of 2015.
JO: I’m turning 18 in six days.
CAMPBELL: Jo came to UCLA as an international student.
JO: I was born in Korea, but I used to live in China, so that’s where I went to high school.
CAMPBELL: Jo came to UCLA in fall 2013. For him, the opportunity to graduate from a top-ranked atmospheric science program was well worth the price of international tuition. However, tuition costs provided him an incentive to take heavier course loads and graduate sooner.
JO: I was initially driven to graduate in three years because of financial problems since I’m paying international tuition fees here. But my family, their financial situation worked out, and I was like, “Why not?” Just do it in two years.
CAMPBELL: But moving through coursework at twice the rate of the average student had a cost. In order to graduate in two years, Jo had to schedule an average of thirty units, or roughly six classes, per quarter.
JO: Last quarter it was nine [classes]. This quarter it’s seven classes, three seminars. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I cram a lot. So during finals week and tenth week, I just go all out so I can probably go about half the day I’m awake.
CAMPBELL: In comparison, UCLA typically limits students to 19 units – about four classes per quarter. For Jo, handling such a heavy workload could be a daunting task. Luckily, he gets by with a little help from his friends.
JO: I have friends from every single class that help me out. They would basically keep me up to date with what I have to do for each class, and we’d study together sometimes. I really would not be able to do it if it weren’t for those people in each particular class that help me out. And people on my floor who give me private tutoring occasionally.
CAMPBELL: Outside the classroom, Jo enjoys typical recreational activities.
JO: I like playing video games a lot, and I do like playing sports like tennis and badminton.
CAMPBELL: After graduation, Jo will attend graduate school to earn a doctorate degree in atmospheric sciences.
JO: I got accepted to Florida State graduate school – the atmospheric sciences department. I do want to do research for the rest of my life, so I want to get a professorship somewhere.
CAMPBELL: As graduation approaches, the view for Enoch Jo looks promising as he graduates as the youngest member of the class of 2015. From Daily Bruin Radio, this is Chris Campbell.