It was truly an honor and a privilege to be able to attend this study abroad program during spring break, with the chance to learn and network outside of my usual routine. I strongly believe this experience enriched my professional and personal development.

As a current junior, I entered the study abroad program undecided on whether to continue on in higher education after a bachelor’s degree. By the end of the program, I had decided to continue in the field and pursue a master’s degree in human resources. Throughout my experience, speaking to current MHRLR grad students as well as seeing how MSU alums thrived in the field of HR in South Korea influenced me to make this decision. I consider this a pivotal moment in my life, as going towards this path would allow me to become the very first in my family to pursue a master’s, especially as a student originally from a low-income area.

On a personal level, as a Korean-American, I felt so connected to the content and in awe of the conglomerates I got to visit such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. The opportunity to step foot into these buildings and speak with MSU alumni who currently work for these global companies felt unreal, and I was so excited to see our Spartan community halfway across the globe.

I actively demonstrated leadership in the study abroad as I am fluent in Korean and was able to translate not only our MSU students on the program but for some of the MSU alums and current employees at the companies who felt more comfortable speaking in Korean. Throughout these exchanges, I never felt more welcomed and valued in Korea, with the culture of hospitality evident in every interaction.

One major myth about education abroad is that it’s difficult to prepare for and balance studying with exploring. In my experience, I was able to easily check off all of the necessary requirements beforehand with pre-departure meetings and the education abroad portal. I was initially concerned about finding the balance between retaining all the information while having fun, but I made the most of my academic experience by setting aside some days for preparing final presentations, and other days for visiting local attractions.

This incredible opportunity is one that I would recommend to any student in HR or interested in HR, for both the experiential learning aspect and gaining the most unique perspectives through global connections. I am extremely grateful that I was awarded the Education Abroad Scholarship, it definitely encouraged me to take a chance in studying abroad for the first time and to strive for excellence.

Name: Chae Lee
Status: Junior
Major: Human Resources and Labor Relations
Hometown: Newport News, Virginia
Program: Human Resource Practices and Employment Relations in South Korea