In this blog post, I will share my reasons for choosing to major in Chinese, my academic plan, and my career goals after graduation.
Motivation for Enrollment
When I was in middle school, my older brother and I used to enjoy watching Chinese martial arts movies, watching one a day. While watching the movies relying on subtitles, it suddenly occurred to me that I could enjoy them even more if I knew Chinese, so I began studying the language on my own. Ever since I became fascinated with Chinese, I have maintained my interest in it, and in my second year of high school, I won the Grand Prize in the high school division at a Chinese speech contest hosted by ○○ University. At this competition, I received praise for moving and entertaining the audience with my speech titled “China and the Color Red.”
Academic Plan and Goals
First, upon entering the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, I recognize that I lack a foundational knowledge of Chinese studies. Therefore, I will build a basic understanding and pursue a variety of courses to prepare myself for practical work. I plan to participate in a Chinese current affairs debate study group and actively engage in lectures on Chinese trade and economics taught in the original language.
Since focusing solely on one field can narrow one’s perspective, I will meet people from various fields to broaden my horizons. During my undergraduate years, I will steadily participate in training programs for international conference specialists while studying for the certification exam.
Additionally, I will conduct extensive research on regional conditions in China to develop practical skills for swift and accurate information exchange with Chinese-speaking regions.
Post-Graduation Plans
After graduation, I plan to complete the Practical Expert Course in Chinese Trade Marketing hosted by the Korea Human Resources Development Service. I understand this program allows participants to focus on three months of on-site experience and language training in China and offers local employment opportunities to those seeking work; I intend to gain practical experience through this program.
In the future, I aspire to become an international trade researcher and apply my skills in China. I aim to contribute to facilitating communication between Korean companies and China by providing research, consulting, and legal advisory services in the fields of trade and investment to government agencies as well as domestic and international companies.
Self-Introduction
My life motto is, “Always think positively and be faithful to what is given.” I believe positive thinking is linked to self-confidence. Since life isn’t all good things and unexpected situations arise while studying, I feel it’s difficult to react quickly without a positive mindset, so I frequently read books that help me think positively.
In middle school, I felt discouraged because my grades didn’t reflect the effort I put in. After that, for the next exam, I decided to break down my goals into detailed steps and record them in a small notebook. For example, if my math scores were low, I set a goal to improve by a certain number of points within a specific timeframe. I created an error log, focused on studying the types of problems I frequently got wrong, and then took practice exams to develop my own test-taking strategy.
I experienced how confidence grew as I set and acted on small and large goals—whether for a month, a day, or an hour—to achieve my dreams. After realizing that these efforts fostered a positive mindset, I now make systematic plans for everything and believe in the power of positivity.
