Feel super ashamed because I was and am drowning in my so-called "busy-life", and have not enough eagerness to be able to write something again here.
So here I am now, already holding my bachelor degree more than a year ago, currently studying in a city named Seoul, so far away from home.. *____*
As my titled of this post "Almost a year of journey, pursuing M.A. :D", I am now having a different path of my life, finally tasting what I really wanted since years ago, studying abroad. It is not as happy and cool as I thought previously, since it is so hard to be away from home, it is also hard to study "hard" and "deep", it is so hard having obligation to be exactly graduate within 2 years, since I have scholarship only for 2 years.
Before sharing what I am having now, probably it would be good to share as well how could I ended up here, in Seoul. So basically, right after my graduation on February 2012, I was officially became a scholarship hunter. I figured by my self, that academic field would be the best option for me rather than working in company. I was having a very hard time though, -the time when you actually a zero-income person, but you have no eagerness to be an "employee" even so many people were asking "where are you working now"-, so actually I was struggling by tutoring and stuffs to still at least have some super little amount of money. I was so tired of people asking me "you are still unemployed?", especially because my friends also my relatives were already starting their career. But, I was convincing my self, that I actually was also starting to build a further path to build my future career. So, I submitted around five applications for scholarship in US, UK, and Korea.
Did I say that I was having a hard time? Yes I did, and it was not ended for several months, when I received rejection and rejection from the scholarship committee, even I got some Letter of Acceptance from universities. In May 2012, I got three rejections, and I started to loose my confidence to be able to get the other scholarship. But then, in the end of June 2012, I got a call for interview from POSCO TJ Park Foundation for my scholarship application in Seoul National University. It was again hard for me, because I was having my best friend as my rival for this scholarship. Right after the interview in the beginning of July, I reached this feeling of "probably my friend will get it and I would still have my other opportunities". Then again, I started to prepare other scholarship applications, more applications. :D
Anyhow.. My feeling came true, one day in the third week of July 2012, my friend sent me a message telling that he got the scholarship from POSCO. I congratulated him for sure. I felt sad undoubtedly. But God always has the best gift for us, less than two minutes after, I got this email from Seoul National University, that I got the full scholarship from other foundation, that is KOGAS Global Fellowship Program. *Yes, remember that I actually applied for five scholarship, than I got four of it rejected, but finally I got the last one accepted*. I felt "freeze" for a moment, I still remember that I was sitting on my bed, with my laptop in front of me, my phone in my hand.. Right after I told my friend that got the POSCO scholarship, then jumped into my mom, so happy but still did not believe and still, "freeze". Hahaha.. I felt so grateful.. I feel so grateful.. :)
So, in the end of August of 2012, I flew to this city I'm currently staying, Seoul. I am enrolled as student in International Cooperation major, Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Seoul National University (SNU). Still a little bit hard to believe though, I became one of the student of so called "the best university in Korea", and having this KOGAS company to pay my tuition and to give my monthly allowance. So basically, I am being paid to study. :D :D To have more info about my school, please check through this link and you can also find some possible scholarships there under "admission" part. And as well, if you want to know more about Seoul National University in general, and you have interest to pursue your study here, please check this guidebook of the university.
What are "interesting" parts from my graduate program here in GSIS, SNU? First, we need to complete 45 credits (including 3 credits for thesis) to be able to graduate. Not like regular master program who gives 24 credits as requirements, we have 45 credits within 4 semester. So, we need to take always 12 credits each semester to be able to graduate ON TIME. Multiple effects from this compulsion, we have tons of reading materials, essays, reviews, paper, presentations, quizzes, exams to be done. Time for fan-girl-ing or watching K-Pop concerts are subjects to be not-questioned to us, since even resting is a very precious moment that we could have. Second, to be able to graduate, other requirements that we need to fulfill before eligible in submitting your thesis proposal is having language proficiency certificate (which are only TEPS or TOEFL IBT are accepted for English), and two compulsory qualifying exams. This qualifying exam is similar to "comprehension on subject/ course exam", so basically we have two subjects (one from our major, and one from other major) to be passed in this exam. Third, I guess those first two parts are the "interesting" parts in other words "hard" one, so for the third, I would like to say that thank God, in GSIS, courses are 90 percents conducted in English, only some courses for Korean Studies major that are offered in Korean. So, for us who are not able to speak in Korean, don't worry, we can survive. :D
After 10 months of struggling this "graduate-student" life, I have achieved some points, like having four courses passed well, one qualifying exam passed also, and having good friends that I can rely on. But still, I still have ten more courses to be passed, one qualifying exam to be done, English proficiency test to be done as well, thesis proposal to be submitted, thesis to be written, and thesis supervisor to be found. Hahahahaha.. Guess I am still having more to be done than has done. I am grateful, yet stressful. I had and have so many times asking my self "what am I actually doing here" when I felt so tired and scared that I will not get through it well. But, I can see that so many people are struggling harder than I am, why should I be scared of something that I can and should overcome with? I can do it, right? *hopefully*, and... however it is hard, this is what I want and always wanted, so there is no much time to be wasted only being scared or stressed. Just face it, :D. So many people out there are hoping to have what I have now.. So, regardless of the hard time that I have to deal with here, I am more than happy and grateful for what God has given to me.
Adios!
Hope I will get back to this blog soon, many things to be shared to you all. :D
x.o.x.o
Anggi
