Tony PARK

Student of Macquarie University, Australia
Exchange to Korea University, South Korea

Studying abroad was a life-changing moment and I was living the dream life. Exchange is such an important experience for one's future and I strongly recommend everyone to try one of the many wonderful opportunities the Endeavour Scholarship offers to students.

When I first got accepted for the exchange semester, I had a lot of doubts, as participating meant delaying my graduation for another year. Also I was scared about leaving for about six months and missing out on the opportunities back home. However, thinking about it now, going to Korea was the best decision I have ever made.

Studying abroad opens up so many opportunities for your career as you start to build more global ways of thinking and connect with people from all over the world. The best thing about going on exchange is meeting new people and building friendships with them. It is a chance to go global!

It is hard choosing the most memorable moment of my exchange as everyday was like living in a dream, but if I had to choose it would have to be the biggest university games between Korea University and Yeonsei University where they compete in baseball, soccer, rugby, ice hockey and basketball. As both universities are the largest and most historic in South Korea, the atmosphere was intense as the students from both universities cheered until our backs were wrecked and sang till we all lost our voices.

My proudest moment would be representing Australia in the International Students Festival at Korea University as I led other Aussies from The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales, and other Australian Universities to create an Australian Booth, promoting Australia in the best way possible. We were the most entertaining booth, showcasing a diverse range of the Australian cultures, and involving my demonstration of the 'Shoey' in front of a global audience.

Another benefit exchange gives you is independence. It was the first time that I stepped out from my parents and lived by myself. I was nervous living on my own, but you gain independence and adapt to the lifestyle. Although I was living alone, I was never lonely, with other exchange friends living in the same building. I do not think I ever felt homesick while I was in Korea. I loved it and wished time would stop forever.

Exchange has changed my plans for the future. Living overseas, you feel very patriotic and get to attend dinner parties hosted by the Australian embassy. I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner and meet all the Australian Government representatives. Now I want to pursue a career in International Relations and represent Australia on the world stage. It gave me the time to discover who I am as a person and what I am passionate about.

Although the exchange will open up many career opportunities, I expect the post-exchange depression will hit hard. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to represent not only my university, but also my country, Australia. You, too, can become a global leader!

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