Hello,

My name is Jennifer Yung-Coak, and I am a senior at St. Paul’s School with a strong interest in hospitality and business. I first discovered my passion for business through creative entrepreneurship. I began by turning my illustrations into stickers and selling them online, which taught me how creativity could become a product and how understanding customers could shape what I created. As my interests developed, I began pursuing larger projects that combined design, business, and my growing passion for service.

During the summer of 2025, I explored Hong Kong’s housing crisis through research, firsthand observation, and interviews with residents. I visited subdivided flats and public rental housing and spoke with residents about how they adapted to extremely limited living spaces. Inspired by these experiences, I designed a multifunctional piece of furniture in the form of a storybook that unfolds into a room. The concept was designed to help children make the most of small living spaces, transforming into a dining table, desk and chair, shelves, and an extendable bed. I developed the concept through sketches in Procreate and 3D models in Rhino, using the design process to explore how furniture could help transform a limited space into an environment where children could learn, play, and dream.

My interest in hospitality developed further during my junior year, leading me to pursue three hospitality internships this past summer. In Hong Kong, I interned at Mondrian Hong Kong, where I designed welcome cards for VIP guests, assisted the housekeeping team with room preparation, and shadowed seven different departments. At The Upper House Hong Kong, I researched high-engagement social media content for marketing, supported the guest check-in and check-out process, and shadowed the Marketing and Guest Experience teams. In Bali, I interned at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, where I researched social media content, supported guest check-in and check-out, and shadowed the Marketing and Guest Experience teams. These experiences gave me the opportunity to see how hospitality operates across different departments while showing me how thoughtful design and attention to detail can shape a guest’s experience.

I also used these internships as inspiration for three design projects centered around hospitality and sustainability.

At Mandapa, I was inspired by the resort’s commitment to reducing plastic waste through its plastic-free amenities. After noticing the widespread use of single-use plastic packaging for shower products and soap in the hospitality industry, I designed a sustainable, all-natural soap bar inspired by the form and colors of the Balinese frangipani flower. To complement the soap, I designed two soap dishes made from repurposed plastic sheets, exploring how sustainable materials could be incorporated into a luxury guest experience without sacrificing aesthetics. My second project was inspired by Potato Head Bali, where plastic waste collected from nearby beaches and mangroves is transformed into Styroshell, an innovative material made from repurposed plastic. To increase awareness of plastic waste while highlighting the resort’s sustainability initiatives, I developed a concept for a collaborative art installation. Guests would create personalized charms using repurposed plastic pieces and seashells and display them on circular structures throughout the resort. The project explored how sustainability could become an interactive part of the guest experience rather than simply an environmental message.

My final project was inspired by my visit to Room4Dessert, one of Bali’s renowned culinary destinations, known for its innovative desserts inspired by Balinese flavors and its commitment to sustainability. I developed a new retail concept for its sister bakery, Powder Room, positioning it as a destination for oleh-oleh, the Indonesian tradition of bringing gifts home from a journey. Rather than conventional souvenirs, the concept would allow visitors to purchase sustainable edible gifts or create their own through workshops inspired by traditional Balinese crafts. Accompanied by music, drinks, and snacks, these workshops would create a relaxed social environment where travelers could connect with local artisans, learn new skills, and leave with a meaningful and personal reminder of Bali.

Beyond my creative projects and internships, I am deeply involved in my school community. I serve as a Student Admission Ambassador, working with the Admission Office and welcoming prospective students and families. As a Community Center Proctor, I help plan, coordinate, and oversee events at our community center, while as a Chapel Warden, I uphold a long-standing St. Paul’s tradition by welcoming students into chapel each morning. I also serve as the head of the FRIENDS program, a mentorship initiative connecting St. Paul’s students with elementary school children in Concord, New Hampshire, and lead the Hong Kong Society, a school-wide organization that introduces members of the St. Paul’s community to Hong Kong’s culture and traditions. Athletics have also been an important part of my experience at St. Paul’s. I am Varsity Swim and Dive Captain and JV Volleyball Captain, and I compete on the top end of the JV Tennis ladder. Outside of athletics and leadership, I am a writer and member of the graphics team for my school newspaper, The Pelican, and serve as Sports Editor for Harbingers’ Magazine, a weekly current-affairs publication written by teenagers from around the world.

Across my creative projects, hospitality experiences, and leadership roles, I have become increasingly interested in how business and design can work together to create experiences that are both meaningful and useful. Whether I am designing a product, improving a guest experience, exploring sustainability, or building community, I am most motivated by opportunities to understand people's needs and turn those observations into something tangible.