Meet Kang Pham (he/him)

Program and Location:

Summer, South Korea: Summer at Hanyang University; Seoul, Korea

Major/Minor:

Computer Engineering Major

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad because I wanted to emersed myself in a foreign culture while taking advantage of unique class opportunities. I ultimately decided to study abroad in the the NC State Partners program: South Korea: Summer at Hanyang University, where I took Weight training and Microprocessor and IoT. Ultimately, I wanted to take this opportunity to study abroad because it will be a great chance for me to step out of my comfort zone, learn what I’m passionate about, build connections, and develop my character through cultural awareness.

What did you learn about yourself?

I learned that I love traveling and learning about other cultures. By the nature of the Partners Program, I was able to explore a country I was unfamiliar with while being in a culture melting pot full of other international students. To this day I am still in touch with the friends that I made during my time studying abroad. I also learned that I enjoy the journey of putting myself in uncomfortable situations. It was the first time I have traveled outside the country alone, and while I was nervous, I felt that I gained a lot of confidence being able to navigate through some of those challenges.

What was one of your favorite parts of your program?

My favorite part of the program were the culture activities that Hanyang International Summer School provided, such as the FC Seoul soccer match. All of the international students were wearing matching shirts or jerseys and sat in the same section. The stadium was electric from the Korean fans and the foreigners. Hanyang International Summer School was even recognized during the game. Ultimately, it was a truly memorable experience that allowed to me have fun cheering on FC Seoul with the other international students and Korean fans.

What advice do you have to future study abroad students?

I would advise future study abroad students to take advantage of the opportunity abroad to make friends, experiences, and try new things. You may experience culture shock, you may feel out of place at first, but all of this is natural and makes the journey of navigating through your study abroad process so much more memorable. Don’t be afraid to try new things and learn as much as you can about yourself and the native culture while you are there.

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?

I really enjoyed my microprocessor and IoT class at Hanyang University. It was an interested introductory class to IoT networks and microprocessor architecture which allowed me to determine my interest. As a continue to pursues my computer engineering degree at NCSU I hope to take more class regarding computer architecture. Apart from furthering the progress of my academic degree, I think this experience has made me a more independent and culturally aware individuals. In other words, I feel that the foundation behind my soft skill has strengthen largely knowing that I was able to to navigate through unfamiliar environments during my time abroad.

In what ways did your identity have an impact on your experience abroad?

I think being a first generation college student, made the process of studying abroad seem even more intimidating at first, however, I was lucky to be surrounded people who encouraged to seize the opportunity for myself. My study abroad experience will be a large highlight in my college experience that I would recommend to everyone.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely, I would say studying abroad was one of the best decision I ever made for myself.