John-Paul Tran

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Studying abroad allowed me to fulfill some of my NTC and major requirements! My program had a wide variety of courses and cultural immersion excursions that allowed me to expand upon my global perspectives and understanding. Since one of my classes involved a lot of team work, I was able to build my team working skills.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

Ever since I was in middle school, I was always immersed in Korean culture. Whether it was listening to the K-pop songs that my sister put on or going to concerts, it was my dream to go to South Korea one day. Since I also love traveling, I knew studying abroad was a great option for me since I could learn more about South Korea.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

South Korea is such a vibrant country to study and explore. The program I went to, Yonsei International Summer School, had so many courses to choose from as well as weekly excursions around the city for us to explore Korean culture. The people in Korea were really nice, and the support from CIEE and the program made me feel safe.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

Step outside your comfort box! Studying abroad can be very scary, but the opportunities that it brings is something that you will never get to experience in the future. Although it's scary to go to a country that you don't know the language of, this challenge will help you in many aspects, whether its academically or professionally. Make sure to reach out to as many resources as you can, since there are so many out there to help you achieve your dreams.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

Since I wasn't able to speak Korean fluently, I was easily identified as a foreigner when I interacted with the people there. However, I was able to accept this since people there were very accommodating and respected my many attempts at trying to speak Korean. Many times, people there would like to talk to me in English so that they could also learn as well.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

From my program, I was able to sign up for a K-pop dance class thinking it was just learning some choreography from new releases. But when I went to the class, I was actually able to meet one of the choreographers for a popular group that told us the art of creating choreographies based on the genre of music that is released as well as the inspirations they get from other dance styles across the world. I was also able to learn how they incorporate Korean dance styles and blend Korean traditional elements with Western traditions.