Over the 4 weeks my course took place, I completed two courses, 5 credits, and made countless memories. I made friends whom I still contact to this day, I met people who were from various backgrounds and identities, and was able to learn about myself and expand my worldview. Throughout my time spent in South Korea, I was taught the intricacies of the Korean language and various topics regarding Korean heritage music and culture. Because of the courses I took, I was able to conclude progress and finish my Korean Minor, as well as progress further into the requirements for my Bachelor’s Degree. Not only this, but now joining the alumni populous of the prestigious Seoul National University bolstered my connections throughout the global professional sphere in spaces such as Medicine, Health Sciences, and other career paths.
As I spent this time back in South Korea, I felt satisfied. Being back in Korea, particularly with my family, made me feel secure and at home. I never really felt homesick, and my English, when I would speak it, felt strained and almost alien after such a long period of not using it. Like an underdeveloped muscle, by the time I had to return home, I felt more comfortable speaking in Korean than in English.
Returning to Pittsburgh, the skills and processes I learned of time management, adaptability, and a certain ebb and flow to life that I had utilized to best experience my short timetable in South Korea were quickly set to use. I finished the summer course that I had begun and promptly began the fall semester. Learning how to best balance school work and social outings has been a finely tuned skill that I had trouble with before, but really finding out my own personal limits in terms of energy and focus got worked out over my study abroad. In health-related fields, these skills are a necessity, as the stressful work of caring for a person’s wellbeing can grind down on a person’s psyche, and without proper care, can result in disaster. For me, this balancing act of maximizing efficiency in work and relaxation was a core takeaway from my experience abroad.