서울대학교 미주동창회 Seoul National University Alumni Association in the USA
This summer I had the honor of spending five weeks in Seoul, South Korea studying at Seoul National University’s International Summer Program. I’m immensely grateful to the Seoul National University Alumni Association in the US for sponsoring my scholarship. The program was transformative as I experienced life as a Korean university student by living in the university dorms, navigating city transportation, and attending classes on campus. The most rewarding part of the summer, though, was the opportunity to connect with my half-Korean heritage by exploring the city and its rich culture.
Because this was my third time visiting Seoul, I was already familiar with the city and its sites. However, I was grateful to experience it through a new lens after completing my first year of Korean language courses at Northwestern University. Since I could communicate comfortably with locals, I enjoyed practicing my Korean language skills and developing my fluency. The program offered me a new perspective on a part of my identity that I had previously experienced mainly as a visitor. Additionally, the program offered weekly cultural field trips to sites like the DMZ, Everland, and historic landmarks throughout Seoul. These excursions were an amazing chance for international students to become truly immersed in the city’s culture.
My first class was Transnational Korean Media and Popular Culture where I learned about Korean popular music and cinema culture and its international influence. Professor Han introduced us to Korean singers, actors, and film producers as we watched dramas and documentaries about the events that influenced Korea’s media landscape. After reflecting on everything I learned about media, I connect the insight I gained from this course to what I’ve learned at Northwestern through my journalism major. I look forward to applying these lessons to my future studies. In the afternoon I took Introduction to Personality and Mental Health. During the four-week class period, we analyzed several ethnographies with Professor Park. I learned how mental health and psychological disorders are understood across different cultures; we discussed the complex relationship between an individual’s suffering and broader social structures. I’m excited to discover how this course relates to my pre-medical studies as I work towards achieving my goal of becoming a physician. I enjoyed taking these courses that I wouldn’t normally have the time to explore at Northwestern.
My advice for future students would be to take this great opportunity to connect with fellow international students from all over the world. It’s a rare chance to be in one place with so many different cultures, so it’s important to take advantage of all that you can learn from such a diverse environment. Explore the city, make new friends, and adapt to a new culture because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Once again, I would like to thank the SNUAA-USA for such an incredible opportunity to explore my academic interests, learn about my culture, and develop many new relationships this summer.
Thank you again for the opportunity!
Sincerely,
Mia Martinez
