Part 1.4: To Korea? Or not to Korea?

What is life without a few problems to overcome? It is the challenge that comes with the problem that makes life worth looking forward to. So what if I failed in my efforts, at least I have tried. Everything else is up to God’s will. This was my mentality when I started applying for the internship. At times, I did start to yearn for it too much. But those were the times I started praying and committing it to God. I could see this as the start of a closer relationship to God.

There were a few obstacles that I had to overcome before landing the internship. Firstly, I had to work out the finances and convinced my mom that it was feasible. Well, I had to pay for my ticket home, but I was going to fly home in summer anyway. I also had to convince her that studying in Korea is beneficial for my International Relations major.

After obtaining her approval, I had to start my application to study abroad for Mount Holyoke College (MHC)-my home university in the States. I missed the deadline for a student exchange so I had to apply to other universities as a visiting student. Exchanges are so much easier to apply as I have to convince MHC that it is absolutely necessary for me to attend the university that visiting-Yonsei University.

Next, came the big hurdle of applying to Yonsei University. Yonsei University is South Korea’s version of Harvard, known for their International Studies and Economics. I don’t know how stringent their admission can be so I gave it my all when I applied. I remember thinking that I am doomed if I don’t get Yonsei, as I only filed a single application to study abroad in MHC.

While all these may sound easy on paper, imagine having to brace the following administrative work in one month. In the midst of obtaining documents and referrals, working out both applications, waiting for approval, sending the application back and forth both within the college and internationally, wiring money for application fees, and worrying about additional transaction fees that are imposed by the bank, I prayed and committed everything to God. I told him that I will only go if it is his will. And I told him to show me his will through the result of the application.

Imagine my joy when God said YES! I was accepted into the program in Korea! Immediately I told close friends in my school and we rejoiced. They even threw a farewell party for me. All these while I remembered the reason I applied to Korea in the first place. Sure, it was to spend Chinese New Year in Malaysia. Sure, it was to spend more time with my family. But above all, it was because of wanting to participate in movie production. I began to feel a sense of higher purpose in my Korea trip. And months later when I step foot in Korea, I began to realize I was right!