Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yeonha Park. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yeonha, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
I’ve always been impatient and sensitive. I couldn’t sleep on the day I made a small mistake, and I was always anxious because I was afraid that people would think I was dumb. When I was doing my first paid intern job, I made a mistake at my workspace. I was really embarrassed, but my manager generously forgave and understood my mistake. She even said that being an intern involves making mistakes and learning from them.
I met many great people and learned the true meaning of generosity.
During that time, I aspired to be a person who shows generosity to others, like the people I had met.
Also, I was able to be generous to others because of my sensitive personality. When I see a person greatly embarrassed by a small mistake, I can’t blame them because it reminds me of myself. I understand the embarrassment and difficulties of others very deeply, I have become more tolerant of others. I don’t want them to be as sensitive as I am.
believe that if people become a little more generous, they have the chance to grow and become better human beings.
Everyone makes mistakes; everyone walks the path of learning. I always want to be generous to such people.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a digital designer at Greensboro Swarm. In general, I handle all the design work for this brand. Primarily, I create animations for the arena’s video board. I’ve been working in the sports industry for 2 years, specializing in creating content for video boards. Some may wonder why do sports need animation? When you attend a sports game, you’ll notice various animations on the screen, including intro videos, player introductions, hype animations (encouraging noise and excitement), and more – it’s all dynamic! (You can view my work on my website!)
My college major was in traditional animation. Yet, I’ve developed a passion for the sports industry since I started working in this field. I love creating content that elicits excitement, hype, and enthusiasm in people. It is an honor for me to create for people and witness their enjoyment. I plan to continue building my career in the sports industry as an animator and designer. It is a huge honor and happiness for me.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first is patience. A person who tries hard will be rewarded, but the timing of that reward is uncertain. Therefore, you have to exercise patience until that time arrives. Many people try in the world, but not everyone can sustain that effort for an extended period. Thanks to my enduring patience, I was able to connect with good people and secure good jobs.
The second is the will. Above all, it is the will to learn and embrace new things. For example, you might have learned a program to perform specific tasks. It may be useful for a few years, but when a new program emerges, you should swiftly adapt to the evolving trend. Adapting quickly will prevent you from falling behind and make you stand out in the job market.
The last one is tolerance. As mentioned in the first interview question, it is essential to understand people generously, build good relationships with them, and reflect on how others helped you when you were in trouble. Their reputation will also influence your ability and become a standard of evaluation; someone who received your help may, in turn, assist you in the future. I believe that living as a righteous and generous person at all times and being kind to others are truly important qualities.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Definitely understanding the sports industry even more. In June 2023, I started my first full-time job at Greensboro Swarm. It was right after the experience of being an intern at the Charlotte Hornets. I learned a lot of things about creating animation for sports entertainment when I was at the Hornets. However, working at Greensboro Swarm was the biggest challenge for me because it was my first full-time job, but also, it was the first year for them to get a video board as well. That means I was about to become the first person to build branded animation for Greensboro Swarm. It was a little bit of pressure, but also a huge excitement. I could build anything I wanted, and I could impact a lot of people strongly.
At the same time, it meant I needed to create from 0 to 100. There was nothing because there was no video board before then. I needed to build everything for it. I researched a lot of other teams’ work, animations, and designs, so I could try something new for us but also fit into the sports industry. You will be able to see a lot of artwork that I made for Greensboro Swarm on my website, and I made all of them only in 6 months since I accepted this position. I’ve never been overwhelmed; I enjoyed it so much and felt great building my career and portfolio from here. We’re passing the halfway point of the season and getting close to the last day of the season. I would say building a new brand style for my company was my biggest growth in the past 12 months.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yeonhapark.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yeonha-park-6bb8b11a0/
