Yohan Lee was able to get a fresh start at UW-Superior – twice

Students arriving to college for the first time understandably feel anxious about meeting new people and connecting with instructors and organizations.

For Yohan Lee, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in May, there was a definite sense of Déjà vu as twice he would have to meet new classmates and instructors.

Lee grew up in Goyang, South Korea, a city of a million people located near the capital city of Seoul. Coming from such a populated area, he sought out new experiences in the United States. Lee was accepted to schools in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida and Minnesota, but he chose Wisconsin, which he remarked “seemed like the most unfamiliar place to me.”

“There were many new things I could learn and experience as an international student with a new culture,” he said.

Discovering Economics

In 2018, Lee arrived at UW-Superior as a history major, but during his sophomore year an economics class sparked a new interest.

“It was so random, I took one economics class and found out it was interesting enough to study more,” he said. “So, I just decided to do a double major. I think economics is one of the best ways to understand human society. I can learn what is going on with people through economics. That was the part I enjoyed.”

Just as a new interest had been discovered, Lee’s educational journey was paused.

“Unfortunately, I needed to take a two-year gap from 2020 to 2022 when Covid hit,” he said. “During those years, I served in the Korean military for 18 months.”

Upon returning to UW-Superior in the fall of 2022, he found a different campus than the one he left.

“When I got back, everything was the same except the people,” he said. “Almost all my friends from freshman year had already graduated. Campus was full of people I didn’t know. However, it was a good opportunity to meet new friends again.”

 Lee became involved with the School of Business and Economics and its event planning committee. He also served as treasurer for the Stimulus Club, worked as a peer tutor and in the residence hall as an advisor.

“I am an introverted person, so mostly I don’t talk to people much,” said Lee. “However, through those student clubs, I learned teamwork and how to communicate with people. Also, I met some really good friends that helped me to figure out which career path I wanted to choose.” 

Lee also made connections off-campus in Superior and Duluth.

“Bayside Baptist Church in Superior and Believer’s Church in Duluth helped me a lot to be plugged into a new society with various activities and events I joined and enjoyed,” he said. “Those are examples of communities that we need for people from different backgrounds.”

From Wisconsin to New York

After graduating from UW-Superior this spring, Lee moved to Queens, New York, to accept a job with a finance consulting team analyzing the economy. He hopes to keep using his economic knowledge and analysis to financially benefit clients. In the future, he hopes his work will benefit a larger group of people and credits UW-Superior for providing the knowledge to pursue those goals.

“I learned more than just economics,” he said. “I learned broad knowledge about business, finance, accounting, statistics and so much more. An economics degree is like a buffet where you can try different things. The School of Business and Economics prepared me with knowledge that will help in my career path. I can tell you that the people are the best part of UWS.”

As you study economics at UW-Superior, you will conduct surveys and collect data as you research and analyze current economic issues and prepare and present your research results. You will also develop, discuss and analyze various economic policies, explore business and market trends and examine the social, environmental and political elements of economic theory and practice.