Liberal Arts Major: Economics
Hometown: Wuxi, China

What was the best part of your experience?

The best part of my experience has been the new understandings I have formed as a result of living in Korea, eating Korean food, participating in cultural events, and visiting historical sites. Studying abroad has allowed me to experience the Korean culture in person.

How did this experience impact you academically?

I took three classes during the study abroad program, including: Contemporary Korean Culture & The Korean Culture Wave, Korean Cinema, and Intermediate Korean Language II. The contemporary Korean culture class focused more on the recent history of South Korea and the development of the Korean film industry. The Korean Cinema class focused on analyzing both contemporary and older Korean films, which elevated my understanding of what Korean films express and the methods they use. What's more, I have learned a lot about Korean language both through classes and through everyday life.

"My study abroad experience has confirmed my interest in living and even working in South Korea in the future."

How will this experience impact your career goals?

My study abroad experience has confirmed my interest in living and even working in South Korea in the future. Because two of my classes are related to Korean Cinema, they increased my interest in media studies and Korean studies, which I have never formally studied.

How has the Paterno Fellows Program had an impact on this experience?

Both the Paterno Fellows Program and Schreyer Honors College recommend studying abroad in order to gain a better understanding of global issues and develop global awareness. This was the initial motivation for me to apply for this study abroad experience. The funds provided by the Paterno Fellow Program helped me spend more time exploring South Korea and take advantage of every opportunity that I was offered.