FHC Blog Prompt #1

I learned several things during my stay in Korea, I will break them down into three main aspects: Personal, Academic, and Professional.

On a personal level, this was my first time living in a foreign country for an extended period of time. I had to navigate a new culture, language barriers, unfamiliar public transportation, and new social norms. Doing this alone taught me self-reliance and resilience. It pushed me to become more open minded and better at understanding people whose experiences and perspectives are different from mine. It also gave me time to reflect on who I am outside of the context of my usual environment.

Academically, I learned how to apply creative and strategic thinking in real world scenarios. I was no longer just imagining projects for class or working toward hypothetical goals. Instead, I was helping shape real content for a real company, and the stakes felt higher. Every edit I made and every design choice had to meet actual standards and contribute to the company’s larger goals. It helped me recognize the difference between theory and practice and made me more disciplined in the way I approach my work.

Professionally, I had to step up in ways I never had to before. My internship involved video editing, digital media, and graphic design work. The work environment was fast paced and demanded high levels of adaptability and proactivity. Deadlines were fluid and communication had to be constant and clear. The leadership at the company valued direct feedback and expected everyone to manage their time well and take ownership of their projects. This structure helped me grow my communication skills and become more confident in expressing my ideas and taking initiative. I learned how to be comfortable with ambiguity and how to be dependable even when the expectations were evolving daily.