When Jimmy Woo graduated from Brick Township High School, he watched his friends accept scholarships and move away to pursue their higher education, remaining confident that the traditional path wasn’t his to follow.
Throughout the four years he worked towards his high school diploma, his classwork came naturally, without much effort. While some students crave this natural scholarly inclination, Jimmy sought greater intellectual stimulation.
With the support of his parents, who both immigrated to the United States from Costa Rica before meeting and marrying, Jimmy pursued what may have seemed like whims to some–exploring the EDM music scene, exercising his creative writing abilities, and entering the realm of the extraterrestrial through astronomy.
For nearly a decade, Jimmy used his experiences to shape his worldview, become more compassionate towards people of all walks of life, and reinforce his belief in peace, love, unity, and respect.
“I was always ‘good’ at school, but I wanted to experience life a bit before going to college,” Jimmy reflected. “Ironically, I chose to start my education at Georgian Court right before the pandemic when life essentially shut down for most of the world.”
After beginning his education online, Jimmy jumped feet first into the GCU community once campus life resumed by accepting a position as a student worker in the Office of Student Success, seeking support services for first-generation college students through TRIO, and joining the Campus Activity Board to help plan popular events.
“Each of these groups has been essential in helping me acclimate to Georgian Court,” said Jimmy. “They’ve allowed me to meet friends and help others, while also providing me with financial resources to make my education possible.”
As a Marketing major, Jimmy has found joy in exploring the business side of some of his favorite forms of entertainment, including music, pop culture, anime, and hockey. He reflected fondly on professors who ‘facilitated me coming up with my own ideas and helped me be fully immersed in the classroom.’
Though unrelated to any specific coursework, Jimmy has made what may be his life’s most important discovery through his education at GCU: his greatest passion.
“I really love learning, and it feels really good when you’re able to contribute,” Jimmy continued, “I don’t want to be better than anyone or in competition with my peers. I want to contribute something meaningful to the communities I’m part of, and that starts with listening and learning from those around me.”
Jimmy’s commitment to understanding others and the world around him is fully displayed in his award-winning advocacy paper, Rated “M” For Men: Understanding The Toxic Culture Of Gaming and Streaming. Originally written for one of his classes, Shaping Lives: Women and Gender, taught by Dr. Melanie Mogavero, the paper was accepted into the New Jersey Women and Gender Studies Consortium and presented by Jimmy at a 2024 Panel held at Drew University.
Though his next steps after graduation are uncertain–perhaps a job in marketing or maybe the MBA program at Georgian Court–Jimmy is sure of his moral code. “You have to have compassion, empathy for others, and integrity–your word is your honor.”
