Testimonial Essay _ Ong Hui Shan, Deborah from Nanyang Technological University

Before joining the KAIST summer school program, I had no previous experience of studying or staying outside of my home country for an extended period of time. This program has therefore given me the opportunity to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a completely new environment, giving me the opportunity to develop both soft and hard skills as I learn to be more independent. As KAIST is also one of the top universities in Korea known for taking in only the smartest students, I was also very interested to explore the campus and find out more about the daily student life in KAIST. The summer program was also a great opportunity for me to practice using some Korean as I have been interested in picking up the language and to also experience the different culture, food and experiences that only Korea has to offer. 

During this summer school program, I had the chance to pick up two modules particularly Ideas and Expression and Korean 1. The first module gave me an introduction to industrial design and the basics of drawing, composition as well as a prototyping framework. The second class helped me to strengthen my foundations in the Korean language through structured lessons that teach you how to read, write and form simple sentences. The professors were also very kind, friendly and engaging. As part of the ideas and expression class, we went on a class field trip to the nearby art museum to study the works of renowned Korean artists. The professor in the Korean class also used fun teaching methods such as getting us to review what we have learned through games or to practice our reading skills while trying out Korean snacks. 

Apart from the courses, another huge part of the program was the opportunity to meet students from across the globe and to interact with them as well as to exchange our different experiences and cultural knowledge from our home countries. Many of the new faces that I have met on the first day of summer school have now gone on to become close friends dear to me, as we often spend time having meals and going on trips or doing activities outside of our classes. Another unforgettable part of the summer program was the field trips organized by KAIST summer school to Jeonju, Muju and Everland. A trip to korea would not be complete without trying out the traditional wear Hanbok, which was what we got to experience on our Jeonju trip and it made for beautiful photos and unforgettable memories despite the hot weather. We also got to experience the making of Korean paper, Hanji, as well as some healing Taekwondo, where we were taught basic Taekwondo moves along to catchy music. 

All these positive experiences have helped me to grow more courageous in travelling out of my home country and opened my mind to the possibilities of studying or working abroad, perhaps even in Korea, as I have come to find this place so endearing. Having known so many friends from different countries has also made me more curious in learning about the different cultures across the world and ignited my passion to learn more languages in order to communicate on a deeper level with my friends. I can truly say that the summer program has built me to be a more global citizen and allowed me to see the importance of learning and understanding different cultures for better communication. Thank you KAIST for the fruitful summer experience and I would visit again when I get the chance to.