*Republished from a previous issue of The Kayseean
By Matthew Miyares
Yesol Kwak, a native of South Korea, said her presence on campus exemplifies how King uniquely supports international students who come to study in the United States.
The Public Relations major said she has an interest in new media publications. She chose to study in the United States because it has one of the largest broadcasting channels in the world. Her goal is to use her education in business advertising/public relations on behalf of non-profit organizations. Although she will only attend King for one semester, she will finish as a senior in South Korea and then begin her career.
The King Experience
Kwak compared her experience at King with that in South Korea. She said each has its differences, the biggest being the level of respect shown in each country.
“At King, everyone is really happy, agreeable, and comfortable with one another”
Yesol Kwak
“American classrooms are smaller and, therefore, in my opinion easier to share your ideas. In contrast, in South Korea, it is very hard to share your ideas. For example, it is disrespectful to speak out against [or challenge information given by] your professor.”
Thoughts to Consider
As her semester winds to a close, Kwak said she hopes to inspire other international students to follow her lead. She offers the following advice:
- “I encourage all international students to get an international driver’s license and a used car. Being able to explore the country you are studying in, especially America, requires some sort of driving.”
- “Join an international student’s club. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know people like you and build a connection with them.”
- “Learn the native language of the country you will be studying in. It may take a lot of time and energy to do so, but I guarantee from personal experience that it will be worth it in the long run.”
- “The professors at King are really understanding and nice. They help me solve problems and give me explanations to difficult things that are hard for me to understand. I just encourage everyone to talk to their professors. They are there for you,” she concluded.
