When I was a child, I had an opportunity to meet a relative who had a job in a Japanese company. When I saw a packaging of a Japanese souvenir I received and Japanese characters displayed on my relative's mobile phone, I wondered, "How do you read these words? " That was my first experience of becoming interested in Japan. 

When I became a high school student, I started studying Japanese as I had always been interested in. At the begging, it was just a hobby for me to learn Japanese, but gradually I started to want to study it more seriously, so I started majoring in Japanese at Dongguk University. 

In my second year of university, I also started taking classes in the Department of Management. In recent years, the employment situation in Korea is getting more difficult and students are no longer able to easily get jobs just by knowing foreign languages, so having other skills besides foreign languages can be an advantage. I chose to take classes in the Department of Management where I could learn marketing and other business skills. 

For me, the opportunity to study business administration in Japan was very attractive. If I study abroad at a partner university, I can earn credits for the lectures, and they can also be counted as credits of the Business Administration Department at Dongguk University. With that in mind, I decided to seriously consider studying abroad. 

Dongguk University has several partner universities where students can study in Japan. Among them, I chose Gakushuin University because it has a long history and is likely to provide high-quality education. Also, the campus is conveniently located, and I thought that it would likely be able to provide a variety of experiences outside of academic institutions. 

What the classes at Gakushuin University's Faculty of Economics appeal to me is that you can learn business management not only from an accounting perspective, but also from various perspectives such as corporate decision-making and organization. I was able to learn from a different perspective than in Korea, so I think it will be useful for my future career path. 

I belonged to Professor Yukihiro Aoki's seminar and participated in group work to consider product plans for one of the real companies and proposed the products for that company. I never thought I would have the opportunity to learn in such a real way during my six-month studying abroad. 

It was a valuable experience for me to learn practically about the mindset and procedures required for making a presentation. Although not everything went perfectly, I realized that even international students can fully participate in activities and be useful as members of a group if they participate and give their opinions enthusiastically. 

In terms of daily life, I also tried to work for a part-time job. Exchange students can work up to 28 hours a week, so I looked around and found a job selling merchandise at an event venue in Odaiba. I feel that through the part-time work, I was able to encounter Japanese culture and values even more. 

On my days off, I like to travel alone, and I've been to Kawagoe, Yokohama, Kamakura and so on. I've been able to experience the unique culture of each place, and I fully enjoyed the life in Japan that I was looking forward to. 

I was also able to make new friends both inside and outside the university. A Korean friend who studied at a university in Tokyo introduced me to a student community, and I joined it. Participating in events and activities with the people I met there is a good way to refresh myself. Gakushuin University's campus is close to other universities, so I think one of its attractions is being able to interact with students from other schools. 

Currently, job hunting in Korea is difficult. We often hear of cases where even those who graduate from a highly rated university in Korea have difficulty finding jobs that they want. In the past, it was common if you graduated from a good university, you could get a job at a good company. Therefore, many high school students thought that "going to a good university" and many university students thought "getting a job at a good company" was the only right path to success. 

However, after coming to Japan and interacting with various students, I saw them enjoying what they like regardless of employment, and looking for work that interests them regardless of whether it is at a large company or not, and this made me wonder, "What does it mean to be successful?" Social status and money are important, but at the same time I thought isn't there also an option of living while enjoying what you like? 

Furthermore, through my life and part-time work in Japan, I was able to consider working overseas can be a career option. I feel that my experience studying abroad has broadened my horizons. 

I found the attractiveness of the Faculty of Economics at Gakushuin University is that it allows students to learn practical aspects in addition to just theory. 

I was particularly impressed by the environment that allowed me to learn in depth about Japanese society, economy, and corporate trends. There were many classes where I could learn about the latest trends in Japan's economy and business through concrete examples while they are difficult to obtain overseas. 

Many lectures were held by guests who were from companies, and you could take lectures that include real-life stories of people working in the field, giving you a more practical perspective. I thought there were many very useful lectures for international students who are interested in Japanese corporate cultures and the structure of the economy. 

I'm sure there are many of you who are excited to think about studying abroad saying "I want to do this" or "I want to make this dream come true." However, once you actually start studying abroad, you may find that things don't go as you expected, or that you are unable to do what you had planned. 

At times like these, rather than regretting and stopping, I think it's important to take a plunge and try something different. I was able to have the opportunity to think deeply about my interests and values by trying new hobbies and traveling alone while studying in Japan. 

I believe you will be able to have a fulfilling studying abroad experience by staying positive and acting flexibly no matter what situation challenges you.