-Park Hye-jin, The member of KASC
Do you know about the Korean-American Student Conference? This is the student conference between Korea and America. One of the American members of the executive committee is a CBNU student, so the CBNU Globe met the student, Park Hye-jin in the Department of Human Ecology.
1. We heard about your participation in the cultural and academic exchange program. Please introduce some activities.
KASC (The Korean-American Student Conference) is a preparation
Also, we have an EC meeting once a week. The ‘EC meeting’ is for the executive committees of the country to connect with each other or meet face to face, gathering for exchanging ideas while making an agenda.
2. How could you be member of an executive committee in an international organization?
By recommendation of the delegation, I was selected as an executive member of the 6th KASC. Recently, awareness about this group is also rising because KASC is promoted by the media a lot.
3. Tell us an impressive story from KASC?
All of us, both Korean students and US students in KASC, had troubles due to cultural differences. For instance,
My memorable private experience was when I joined a discussion at Missouri University. The topic was ‘Biracial Couples’. I remember that I prepared really hard for the presentation. As a result, after my presentation, I attracted audience’s interests more than any other students did. I changed the atmosphere of the discussion.
4. What did people say when you worked in the Korean-American Student Conference?
When I first worked in the KASC and started my activity, my parents said, “She begins her work again!” I had to find someone who helped me for the KASC work and I was recommended a professor, Kim Dong-geun, who works in Public Relations. Professor Kim was my strong auxiliary troop. And for his interest and help, I spread out my work in KASC. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him. At first, those around me didn’t know about my activities in detail, but now, many people are proud of me since KASC has gotten so much media attention.
5. Don’t you find it difficult, managing both work and classes?
It is not easy to manage both study and KASC activity. In particular, I live in Korea but I work in the United States as a member of the executive committee. So the connection between members isn’t easy. There are a lot of students who take a leave of absence because it is hard to hold on to both. However, my lifestyle choice is to exercise to raise my strength rather than to take a rest. I think my campus life is as important as KASC. It is difficult to hold on to both, but KASC is valuable enough for me to challenge myself.
6. Your dream is to work at the UN; are you preparing well?
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is my role model. Of course, I can’t enter the UN now, but if I work hard and prepare for the UN, someday I will work at an international organization. Also, I’m the interested in environmental problems. I participated in the UN Green Cross lecture and I learned the activity of the UN and how to hold on the problems.
7. Please say something to the CBNU students.
Academic record is important. Knowing this, when I was a freshman and sophomore, I clung to the idea of raising my grade. Still, there are a lot of programs and experiences you can participate in as a university student. Also, I want to say to always prepare for your university life. Only I know for myself what I want to do and what I like.
Up until now, we have talked to Park Hye-jin, the member of the executive committee in the Korean-American Student Conference, and we have learned how she breaks for her dream. Now, look around and find diverse activities to lead you to your dream!