This blog post introduces growth stories gained through overseas experiences, study abroad, and travel during school days, along with sample self-introductions that capture these experiences.

Self-funded Overseas Training Program

While majoring in Accounting at university, I acquired extensive expertise in ERP accounting and taxation. This laid a solid foundation for my growth into a professional capable of leveraging accounting information for strategic corporate decision-making.
Looking back on my university years, the most memorable experience was the Canadian language training program I prepared for and attended entirely on my own. My parents’ educational philosophy—that I should accomplish what I want to do myself and build confidence in my abilities—was a tremendous source of strength. I also secured the entire cost of the program independently. I saved every penny earned from tutoring consistently since entering university, in addition to the money my parents had carefully saved and managed for me since childhood in a special account for my New Year’s money. Of course, my parents’ consideration made it possible for me to save all my tutoring income. From the start, I shared my desire to study abroad in Canada and my plan to fund it myself with my parents, and they readily supported me. In return, they agreed to provide my living expenses during school on the condition that I earn academic scholarships each semester.
With a clear goal in mind, I gave my all to both my studies and tutoring to earn my parents’ support through my own efforts. During my tutoring students’ exam periods, I personally prepared practice test papers for them. When these periods overlapped with my own exams, I cut back on sleep to ensure I didn’t neglect either responsibility. As a result of these efforts, I earned academic scholarships for every semester of university. Thanks to my parents’ allowance support, I was able to save all my tutoring income, fully funding my study abroad expenses.
Because I funded my studies entirely on my own, I didn’t waste a single hour during my language training in Canada. When I wasn’t in class, I explored Toronto on foot, walking through every corner of the city, seeing the alleys firsthand, talking with locals, and trying to feel the city’s pulse. Spending my time so meaningfully made my English studies much more efficient. After returning home, I kept up the momentum by consistently challenging myself with TOEIC exams. I currently maintain a TOEIC score of 900 and TOEIC Speaking Level 7.
Looking back, this experience was not just a language study program, but a ‘challenge I set a goal for and achieved through my own efforts.’ The confidence and sense of accomplishment gained during that process will be a great asset in my future life.

Learning Sincerity Through Volunteer Work in China

After enrolling in the Chinese Language Department, I was selected as an exchange student to ○○ region in China during my sophomore year, gaining the opportunity to study there for a year. Having dedicated myself to studying Chinese and English since entering university with the goal of becoming an exchange student, I was able to start my university life there without major difficulties. However, rather than just focusing on classes, I wanted to make the most of that year and spend it meaningfully. So I endeavored to broaden and deepen my experience of life in China by participating in various activities.
Among these, the most memorable experience was volunteering with friends from my class. Though we came from different countries and cultures, we came together with one heart to serve as learning assistants in the impoverished neighborhoods of ○○, China. This activity began with the thought, “If given the chance to learn, wouldn’t these children find it easier to step into society?” Yet, teaching children whose study habits weren’t established was far from easy. We decided to let go of impatience and wait. We adapted to the children’s circumstances and pace, trying learning methods that incorporated play, gradually bringing about change.
As time passed, the children gradually began to open up and formed close bonds with us. From that point, positive changes also appeared in their learning. Through this process, I felt the weight of the word ‘sincerity’ once again. I believe it was because we genuinely desired their growth, and that sincerity was conveyed, leading the children to trust us.
This experience taught me an important lesson: in any situation, sincerity must come first when interacting with others, and that sincerity is the key that unlocks the heart. Moving forward, I will never forget this mindset and will approach all aspects of my work and daily life with an honest attitude.

The process of mastering language during my study abroad in Canada

During middle school, my brother and I embarked on a journey to study abroad in Canada. Our parents, who wished for us to experience a broader world, boldly sent us overseas. At the time, I felt I wasn’t fully prepared, but my brother said, “If we wait until everything is perfectly ready, we’ll be too late,” so I followed that path without hesitation.
We arrived in Canada and began staying at our uncle’s house. Not being able to speak English freely made me feel stifled. I loved chatting with friends, so not being able to express myself freely doubled that frustration. Even when someone just looked at me, I’d wonder, ‘Are they talking about me?’ – I developed a paranoid mindset. I hated seeing my confidence fade, and that feeling became my biggest motivation.
From that moment, I threw myself into studying English. After school, I’d grab my brother while he was doing homework and force conversations by saying anything in English. I also watched TV diligently, especially news programs. At first, I could only guess the content based on the visuals, but consistent viewing greatly helped me learn accurate pronunciation. After nearly a year of living like a ‘mute,’ my English skills suddenly improved noticeably.
Once the language started clicking, the frustration in my heart vanished instantly. My confidence returned as if I’d regained my old self, and making friends from various countries added vibrancy to my school life. Through this experience, I learned the harsh truth: ‘When you’re desperate, you just do it.’ Had I remained stuck in the mindset of preparing perfect English before studying abroad, I might never have embarked on that path even now. But I learned by necessity, colliding with reality to survive, and that desperation maximized my learning effectiveness.
Since then, I strive to approach every task with this mindset. The immersion and focus unleashed by desperation became my most powerful asset, and I believe it will remain a solid foundation guiding my growth and success.

A Record of Study Abroad, Challenge, and Growth

After graduating high school, I went to study abroad in the US. I completed a language program and enrolled in a state university, majoring in accounting. With the perseverance and diligence characteristic of Koreans, I diligently managed my grades, consistently earning academic excellence scholarships. Beyond academics, I actively participated in various campus social activities. Furthermore, I joined a national college student union, taking the lead in community service activities. While engaged in these diverse pursuits, I also gained the opportunity to be invited as a member of a campus social club. Club activities provided me with a broader social platform to meet and interact with people from diverse fields, which became a significant asset.
A particularly memorable experience was a presentation competition held at my university during my student days. I formed a team with friends from different majors and worked on a six-month project. The challenge wasn’t just preparing the presentation; it was coordinating roles and reconciling differing perspectives stemming from our varied academic backgrounds. I took on the role of mediator, balancing the diverse needs and differing opinions of my teammates to ensure the project ran smoothly. Though this work was often unseen and seemingly tedious, I recognized that neglecting it could derail the entire project. I proactively stepped in to resolve issues before anyone else. As a result, each team member’s role was completed with greater precision, and the project itself concluded successfully, earning us third place in the competition.
These experiences taught me the value of collaborating with others to achieve goals, transcending mere academic achievement. I believe they will serve as crucial foundations for my future life.

Learning and Growing Through Early Study Abroad

My father made significant sacrifices and invested generously in my future. Particularly during my high school years, when his business was thriving, I embarked on early study abroad. My parents’ expectation that I “go out into the wider world, learn much, and return” weighed heavily on me as a great responsibility. Unfamiliar with English, adapting to life in the US was not easy, but fortunately, I believe I was able to endure that period because my younger sibling was with me. My sibling and I, who hadn’t felt particularly close back in Korea, grew much closer abroad because we were each other’s only support.
School life in the U.S. became a pivotal moment that broadened my horizons. In an environment where students from diverse countries studied together, I naturally became familiar with their cultures and learned to respect each other’s differences. At first, it felt strange to be in a classroom with friends of various skin colors and backgrounds. It was a scene unimaginable in a Korean high school. But as time passed, I developed a relativistic perspective in this melting pot of cultures and realized we could become one under the name ‘friends’ without cultural prejudice. This experience became a crucial part of my growth.
However, my father’s business hit a downturn, changing everything. After graduating high school, I had to return to Korea. I had received an acceptance letter from a university in the U.S., but the path to securing tuition fees seemed hopeless. My father felt terribly sorry for me, but I only felt sorry for him, knowing how much he had struggled to afford my education abroad. Carrying that feeling, I made a resolution: I would cover my own tuition and living expenses and enter university through my own efforts.
Today, I possess the confidence to uphold that resolution. Behind this stands my parents, who always believed in me and quietly supported me from behind, helping me become independent. Thanks to them, I gained the strength to walk my own path without wavering, no matter the situation. What I learned through early study abroad wasn’t just English and culture, but a perspective on people and the world, and the will to sustain myself. That experience and learning will remain a solid foundation for my life going forward.

Paris, City of Art

As I developed an interest in design, my attention naturally turned to luxury brand accessories. Whenever new products launched, I would be among the first to access information through overseas websites and often shared these updates on my blog. Frequent visits to these international sites made me realize English study was essential. Despite rarely studying English in high school even when told to, I began studying it voluntarily once I entered university.
I didn’t go on a language study abroad program like others, but by attending a language academy and steadily building my skills, I grew to the point where I could handle most English on my own. Then, as I approached university graduation, my parents offered to send me on a language study program. However, instead of a rushed trip visiting multiple countries or a language study program, I wanted to stay in one city for a long time and deeply experience it. So I chose a long-term stay with just a backpack, and the destination was naturally France.
Paris, the city of artists where the entire city is a work of art. I stayed there for two weeks, walking every nook and cranny of its streets, big and small. Though I regretted not being able to ask freely about things I was curious about due to my poor French, during that time, Paris gave me inspiration and emotion that nothing else could replace. Those two short yet intensely packed weeks will forever remain among the most brilliant moments of my life.

The dream of competing with the world, born during my trip to America

To my young self, my father was the ‘world’ itself. His frequent overseas business trips meant we didn’t spend much time together, but the exotic gifts he brought back each time instantly made me the popular kid among my friends. Above all, my father would look at me with satisfaction as I beamed with joy and always offer the advice, “Go out into the wide world.” Those words weren’t just a simple request; they became the seed that expanded my horizons and dreams.
Perhaps influenced by my father, I developed a keen interest in foreign languages from a young age. As soon as I began reading, he would bring me famous children’s books from the countries he visited on business. At first, I flipped through the pages just for the fun of looking at the colorful pictures. But as the text grew longer, I realized I needed to learn the language to understand the stories. My father never directly told me, “Study English.” Instead, he paved the way for me to recognize the need myself and learn. That experience instilled in me the habit of ‘planning and achieving things on my own,’ not just with foreign languages but in everything, and it remains a great asset in my life to this day.
During high school, I first set foot on American soil while accompanying my father on a business trip. The America I knew from TV and books revealed itself as something entirely different the moment it unfolded before my eyes. The endless expanse of sky and land, and the expressions of people moving freely within it, made me fully grasp the meaning of the word ‘vastness’. Especially, the experience at Harvard University, where my father made a special effort to take me, became a turning point in my life. The sight of students engrossed in books throughout the campus was awe-inspiring, and the majestic buildings felt like temples of learning. From that day on, I nurtured dreams of attending university and aspirations to stand on the world stage.
My father instilled in me a greater ambition with his words: “You must compete not just with Korea, but with the world.” That trip was more than a simple sightseeing tour; it became the catalyst that awakened my inner motivation and passion. After returning home, I accelerated my studies, and that passion carried through my university years. Even now, I aspire to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world beyond Korea.
From childhood, I never let go of that aspiration. Now, I stand tall in the world, ready to fully unleash my potential. The dream that began on that trip to the United States remains a work in progress, and I will continue advancing toward it without pause.

Meeting friends of diverse nationalities through my study abroad experience in Singapore

I spent my middle school years in Singapore and later continued my high school education in Korea. As I approached university, I deeply contemplated whether to attend a Korean university or return to Singapore to begin my college life. After lengthy discussions with my parents, I chose to attend university in Singapore. My middle school experience there made adapting to university life relatively smooth. There, I interacted with friends of diverse nationalities, broadening my understanding of my major and building a solid foundation for developing professional skills.
Given its international university nature, school festivals primarily featured programs allowing students to experience various cultures. As a member of the Korean student association, I also planned events introducing Korean culture. Among these, the tteokbokki we prepared proved far more popular than anticipated. But I didn’t stop there. I distributed surveys to friends who tried the tteokbokki, collecting diverse feedback on flavor, texture, and seasoning intensity. Based on this, I analyzed the tastes of various countries. I believed that since people from diverse cultural backgrounds had tasted it, reflecting each country’s preferences would satisfy more people. After analyzing the survey results, I implemented several improvements for the next year’s festival: slightly adjusting the spiciness of the sauce, adding a variety of vegetables and garnishes, and more. As a result, satisfaction levels were significantly higher than before.
This experience wasn’t merely about preparing for the festival; it was a process of not dismissing the given results but deriving improvement plans through analysis and feedback. I believe this habit and attitude will be a great asset in whatever I do in the future. Especially in fields like sales, where one must meticulously analyze customer reactions and revise/supplement strategies based on the results, it will be the driving force behind achieving better results year after year.

Travel and Language Study Experience in Asia

During my university years, I embarked on my first overseas trip by chance. While participating in a contest club activity, my team and I entered a public service advertising competition and won. The prize we received was a free trip to China. For someone like me, who had always put off travel citing reasons like “I’m too busy studying” or “I don’t have time because of school,” this opportunity opened a door to a new world. China, my first encounter, was truly a new world. It made me realize the world was far broader and more colorful than I’d imagined, having narrowed my perspective while focused on job preparation and building my resume. In that moment, all my previous worries seemed infinitely small.
After my China trip, I didn’t stop; I immediately planned my next journey. I personally designed and executed a travel route through Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. I didn’t view travel merely as ‘rest for myself.’ I wanted to gift my teammates meaningful and enjoyable experiences too. So, a month before departure, I created detailed schedules, researched accommodations and restaurants myself, and shared everything along with a budget plan. My friends who saw my plan gladly joined the program, and thanks to that, everyone enjoyed a satisfying trip. The sense of accomplishment and fulfillment I felt while preparing and leading the trip became another motivation for me.
Around the second semester of my third year of university, I felt something was missing about graduating just like this. So, I decided to study abroad in the Philippines for a new challenge. It wasn’t just about improving my English skills; I wanted to simultaneously experience learning and living in a new environment. I took classes and earned credits at a Philippine university while strengthening my English skills through interaction with native-speaking professors. On weekends and during breaks, I traveled around the Philippines, experiencing its nature and culture firsthand. Amidst the blue seas, lush tropical forests, and warm smiles of the people, I felt the beauty of Asia with my whole being.
These experiences became a crucial turning point in my life. I learned that travel isn’t merely ‘leaving’; it’s a valuable learning experience that broadens one’s horizons and deepens understanding of people and cultures. That’s why, even after becoming a working professional, I’ve kept travel as a vital hobby in my life, eager to encounter the world’s diverse faces whenever opportunity arises. The world remains vast, and I intend to keep walking into it.

The Experience My First Overseas Trip Gave Me

The year I entered middle school, I went on my first overseas trip. My middle school at the time ran an educational program offering short trips to China during vacation periods. Determined to experience overseas travel, I applied without hesitation. Of course, simply ‘applying’ didn’t solve everything. The school only covered half the travel expenses, so I had to personally raise the remaining roughly one million won. My parents cautiously suggested, “Wouldn’t it be better to wait until you’re a bit older?” but I was strongly determined to go at that time. China, more than other countries like Japan or Hong Kong, captured my heart, and I earnestly persuaded my parents by explaining my reasons to them repeatedly.
As a result, I gained the precious opportunity to travel to China for two weeks during summer vacation. While 13 nights and 14 days might seem short on a calendar, it was the longest and most fulfilling time I’d ever experienced. Having lived in Korea, and specifically in one region, for so long, a foreign country was a completely new world to me. Everything was unfamiliar and fascinating—the differences in climate and weather, of course, but also people’s expressions and speech patterns, and even the food culture. The process of adapting day by day in this unfamiliar environment felt thrilling, like an adventure. The feelings, emotions, and even the temperature of the air I experienced there remain vividly etched in my memory to this day.
That first trip abroad meant more than just sightseeing. The experience became a pivotal moment that shaped the direction of my life, and it was then that I set the goal of “doing something related to China.” Since then, I have consistently strived to become the best Chinese language teacher, taking one step at a time toward that dream. Looking back now, those two weeks were like a precious gift that changed my life.