Jin: Korea: State University of New York – Binghamton: Aug 20, 2018

I have been raised as third culture kid. I was born in South Korea, but I left the country to Hong Kong when I was two years old. I came back to Korea and attended an International School for middle school and high school. I went to New York afterwards for college. I gained a lot of experience with different cultures and growing up as a third culture kid allowed me to broaden my perspective and disable stereotypical judgments. Even though I am very thankful for my educational background that allowed me to explore different cultures, I always had to face identity crisis since I was an "abnormal" Korean citizen. This lead me to come back to Korea and apply to the master's program for the department of Sociology in the Academy of Korean Studies(AKS).
I enjoy being a student, since I know the true joy of being a learner. I also find joy in sharing my knowledge with other people. With this reason, I have tried to be in school because it is a place designed for teachers and students. I have been teaching students in Chung Dam and JLS Jung Sang Language school before I applied for the graduate program in AKS. Even while I was attending classes for my master's program, I continued to tutor during the weekends.
I believe that maintaining a healthy relationship with others is the most important. I am bilingual; therefore, I am capable of communicating with colleagues from different countries. I try my hardest to be a good listener since listening is more important than speaking.
Although I have lived in Hong Kong for many years, I have not been in China before. If I receive an opportunity from QingDao International School, it would be my first to work and live in China. Since I am fully aware of the importance of having good communication skills, I do not think I would have a problem working with and seeking for advice from teachers who are much more experienced than I am. Also, I have been working with elementary through high school kids and I have not experienced any conflicts with the students I have taught. Earning trust form the students is my first priority and I am confident with maintaining good relationships with them and their parents as well.