Alumni Spotlight: Minjae Park ’09

Minjae Park '09, once editor-in-chief of  The Talon, has built his career on a quest to understand the world around him and a commitment to making a positive societal impact. 

After discovering his love for storytelling at Graded, Minjae studied journalism and political science at Northwestern University. He began his career at  The Record, a local New Jersey newspaper, where he published more than 700 news pieces on topics ranging from school budgets to elections. Following his stint as a journalist, Minjae held communications and strategy roles at Audible, Amazon’s audiobook company, before stepping into the political arena. Today, he serves as communications director for Acumen and uses his skills to champion social change.

In this issue of  The Graded Gazette, Minjae shares his experience as press secretary for US Senator Cory Booker, reveals his favorite audiobook, and offers advice to aspiring journalists.

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As a South Korean, what aspects of Brazilian life did you find most enjoyable? 

I loved the warmth of the people, the weather, and the incredible natural beauty. And I loved the food. I didn’t know how good I had it with the constant supply of pão de queijo, stroganoff, papaya, and heart of palm until I left. 
 

What was your favorite article you wrote for The Talon?

In the last piece I wrote for The Talon, I tried to remind my classmates (and myself) that after years of feeling stressed about where we’d go for college, our college years ultimately would be shaped by how we approached them. Of course, I said it in many more words and with the high-mindedness of 18-year-old me. But I stand by what I was trying to say. In a high-achieving environment like Graded, we can get caught up in prestige, brand names, and rankings. But wherever we go, what we choose to make of it is what matters. 
 

 

How did your extracurricular involvement in Model United Nations (MUN), Harvard Association for Cultivating Inter-American Democracy (HACIA), and soccer help mold you?

Soccer taught me how to work hard with a team toward a shared goal. Discipline isn’t something you compartmentalize, so the rigor, consistency, and effort it demanded spilled over into other aspects of my life, making me a better student. 

HACIA was an incredible experience and privilege. We traveled to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico City for our summits—how many high schoolers can say that?—and were nurtured by our dedicated advisors, Mr. Bair, Ms. Bree, and Mr. Stephenson. 

One story stands out. During our trips, the Graded team would regroup and reflect at the end of each day. Mr. Bair would prompt us to share kind words about one another. In El Salvador, he took the floor and singled me out for my composure while speaking. I was far from a confident speaker, and I think he knew that, but his words lifted me and stayed with me. 

 

Why did you decide to study journalism?

I’d had a great time working for The Talon, with support from phenomenal English teachers like Mr. Berg and Ms. Pfeiffer. They taught me to read closely and write clearly. I also loved the thought of learning for a living—journalists get to ask questions of strangers and become mini-experts on a range of topics. That sounded cool to me.  

After graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, you landed a job at a New Jersey newspaper. Did you write any stories that had a lasting impact on you?

Journalism thrusts you into new worlds. You learn about people whose life experiences are unfathomably different from yours. Talking to a 7-year-old boy who survived a gunshot and hearing his mom’s hopes to move them out of the neighborhood. Listening to a town council debating whether to open a new parking garage downtown. Covering all sorts of crimes, fires, and local and state affairs. All these stories continue to give texture to how I think about a range of issues.
 

What is your favorite audiobook, and why?

American Pastoral by Philip Roth is my comfort listen. I know that’s odd to say about a book that involves the bombing of a post office and the disorientation of the Vietnam War years, but the narrator, Ron Silver, is completely entrancing and transporting. It’s a great listen on a long drive or soothing to fall asleep to—just don’t lose your place in the book. 
 

What excited you the most about working as press secretary for US Senator Cory Booker?  

As a longtime New Jerseyan who’s gotten his share of “why do you live in New Jersey?” I was excited about working for someone unapologetically from Jersey who stood for values like decency, justice, and opportunity. He’s someone who tries to elevate, unite, and find common ground, even with people who vehemently disagree with him. That resonated with my belief that even as American politics continues to polarize, there is a way forward grounded in our shared values and humanity.

 

What is your advice to students who aspire to become journalists?

Write constantly. Writing really is a craft. Try out new words, new styles, new voices. See what fits. As you do, seek out good writing. Study what makes it good and let that seep into your writing. 

The other quality to hold onto is curiosity. We can get too comfortable talking when we have much more to gain by listening. Approach every conversation and experience as an opportunity to learn. 
 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  

I hope I’m doing something I enjoy and find meaningful—wherever in the world I am, whatever job I hold—and most importantly, surrounded by a loving community of family and friends.