My original motivation for participating in
the Campus Asian Program organized by KAIST was that I wanted to experience
different research laboratories. Although I am currently a master’s student, I
plan to pursue my PhD in another country, so I am eager to learn about
laboratories in different environments and explore the research topics they
focus on during my master’s stage. This program provided an excellent
opportunity for that. A one-month duration is
neither too short nor too long — I believe it was just the right amount of time
for me to understand a new laboratory’s research directions, management style,
and academic atmosphere.
I gained a lot from this program. In terms of
research, I not only received many innovative ideas but also made some initial
attempts based on what I had learned. This was mainly thanks to my advisor and
fellow lab members who guided me. Beyond research, another important aspect was
that the program helped me improve my English skills. In China, I rarely use
English for communication, but this new environment pushed me to actively
practice both my speaking and listening skills. In addition, I gained a deeper
understanding of Korean culture and daily life.
My favorite part of the program was being
assigned to a KAIST research laboratory. This is something that summer schools
or other types of practical activities usually cannot offer, and it was one of
the main reasons I chose this research program.
I believe this experience has had a
significant impact on my future research plans and life goals. Before joining
the program, studying for a PhD abroad was only one of the possible options I
was considering. However, after participating, I now feel a stronger desire to
pursue my PhD in another country — because I found that a new environment
brings me more energy, and I enjoy communicating with people in different
countries.
The two pictures here show: one is a slogan
from the KAIST library that I really like, and the other is a group photo with
my lab members at KAIST, who were all incredibly friendly to me.
