shagharo
Feb 26, 2019
Graduate / GKS 2019 personal statement, Culture and Tourism Contents [3]
Hello, this is my personal statement but as you can see its too long! i have to reduce it to one page but i do not know which parts to delete, because i really want to say them all! please help me.
What does the world think about us? What kind of image do we have globally? These are the controversial questions that every Iranian asks when encountering a foreigner. I have lived in a country that has been isolated in the global community over years because of the economic and political problems. By the result, in spite of the historical, cultural and breathtaking attractions of my country, the number of tourists and cultural interactions has been diminished and the image of my country on websites and global media has been affected by this issue. As a person from the young generation of my society, I have always dreamed of development as well as friendship and global relationship for my country. So that my love for diverse cultures, languages and traveling inspired me to choose Tourism as my academic discipline. Growing up in an undeveloped country, I have known the vital role of tourism and cultural contents for the growth of a nation.
How South Korea could become a leading Asian country in just fifty years? How can they utilize their unique cultural concepts to captivate the hearts of millions by their Korean Wave? South Korea is using media, Kpop and national characters to boost its Tourism and globalize its culture. This is how it's been the dream of me and lots of my friends to study and live in this country to have a touch of this phenomenon and explore their culture not only in media but also in its natural environment.
From the first day of entering University, I had the goal to study my masters in Korea and I had seen many students who got the GKS scholarship from my country. They had the chance to study in a developed country and learn Korean Language that I was dreaming for; so it became my motivation for trying hard for maintaining my goals. Consequently, I got high grades and ranking in university and finished it in three years. I could get my masters without an entrance exam at my University, because of my high ranking, which was the dream of my classmates but I refused it to go and chase a bigger dream.
After graduation, I applied for the GKS program through embassy track and I got rejected but since it was my goal to study tourism in Korea I did not apply for any European or American universities. Instead, I realized that I lack knowledge and experience in my field of study so I came from my hometown to the capital to work and gain experience in the Tourism industry and to realize what I want to gain in life. During this 2 years gap after graduation, I worked in two travel agencies in the tourism contents section and produced tourism related contents on websites and social media about attractions and cultures of my country and others. Also, I worked in a Quarterly Tourism magazine named "Gilgamesh" as a translator and writer and participated in many conferences and event planning projects. In one of these projects named Etravelgram, we started to popularize unknown cities and attractions of Iran by using social media influencers and that was a very successful project. I also participated in translating a book named "100 reasons to visit Iran" which is in the process of publishing. In one of my articles in Gilgamesh magazine, I wrote about a Persian language institute that teaches the Persian language to foreigners and it was so interesting for me to know that we have something familiar to Sejong Institute in our country. (This edition of the magazine will be published in April). Moreover, I started solo traveling through my country to have deep cultural interaction with people and to identify the needs and tourism potentials of each city and destination. Furthermore, by leading so many incoming tours as a tour guide, I got praised in one of the Austrian newspapers as a cultural ambassador.
Because of my interest in Korea (both North and South), I started to read more about its history, politics, and society. The outcome was four articles with these topics "Korean food and deserts" " Hanbok" "Hangul" and "chopsticks" that are published on the Karnaval tourism website in the Persian language. Also, I studied the Korean Language for two semesters In Sejong Institute. After hearing about Kpop idols coming to Dubai, I went all the way to participate in SM Entertainment concert in Dubai and there I got to realize the power of Korean wave which is also found its way in the Middle East.
Through my journey to touch Korean Culture and get acquainted with it, I found also some difficulties and barriers. South Korea is very well known among the young generation In Iran but for normal people and academic communities, it is deeply unknown. For writing my articles about Hanbok I had to go to our national library and in a special place named Korea Corner, I could find the books I wanted. But the access to the books was limited and access to the library has restrictions too. So I realized how limited contents are out there about Korea and how can I help by studying culture and tourism contents to produce more books and academic articles. I really want to translate those English and Korean books to Persian and of course, translate some cultural books about Iran to Korean because I am sure how limited information is out there about my country in Korea too.
By counting all my teenage days till now, it's been fifteen years that South Korea has captivated my heart and mind in every way. I have spent half my life watching their dramas, TV shows, listening to their songs, finding Korean friends, reading about their history and culture, learning their language and etc. I think I have become half Iranian and half Korean. After all, it has also affected my education and career path. Tourism has always been my favorite major and dream career and South Korea is the country that has been very successful in this field according to "progress of challenges in Korean Tourism studies" article by Shin Yongseok. Why I choose South Korea over western countries? Because I am living in an Asian country and I believe that using western methods and theories are not necessarily responsive in all aspects of Asian societies due to different cultural context. South Korea seems to find its strategies by giving a uniqueness to its country that cannot be seen in any other countries though it has some weaknesses. They need more academic contents and diverse research topics and I wish I can be a help in this challenge.
GKS aims to deepen the mutual friendship between South Korea and countries all around the world and also Kyung Hee University's goal is to "make a cultural world for humanity", these goals are in the same line of my goals. Getting admission from Kyung Hee University with its powerful Tourism department is not just a chance of studying for me. In the hard days of experiencing sanctions in my country, Living alone in a big city and fighting for my dreams, life has shown its tough side to me. I have gone all the way and tried hard every single day to fit the standards of South Korea's high academic standards. I also did much more than I wrote here. Many volunteer works and also participating in a UNESCO Project in gastronomy. I did all my best and winning this scholarship is a hope for a brighter future and a new life experience.
Hello, this is my personal statement but as you can see its too long! i have to reduce it to one page but i do not know which parts to delete, because i really want to say them all! please help me.
tourism and the growth of a nation
What does the world think about us? What kind of image do we have globally? These are the controversial questions that every Iranian asks when encountering a foreigner. I have lived in a country that has been isolated in the global community over years because of the economic and political problems. By the result, in spite of the historical, cultural and breathtaking attractions of my country, the number of tourists and cultural interactions has been diminished and the image of my country on websites and global media has been affected by this issue. As a person from the young generation of my society, I have always dreamed of development as well as friendship and global relationship for my country. So that my love for diverse cultures, languages and traveling inspired me to choose Tourism as my academic discipline. Growing up in an undeveloped country, I have known the vital role of tourism and cultural contents for the growth of a nation.
How South Korea could become a leading Asian country in just fifty years? How can they utilize their unique cultural concepts to captivate the hearts of millions by their Korean Wave? South Korea is using media, Kpop and national characters to boost its Tourism and globalize its culture. This is how it's been the dream of me and lots of my friends to study and live in this country to have a touch of this phenomenon and explore their culture not only in media but also in its natural environment.
From the first day of entering University, I had the goal to study my masters in Korea and I had seen many students who got the GKS scholarship from my country. They had the chance to study in a developed country and learn Korean Language that I was dreaming for; so it became my motivation for trying hard for maintaining my goals. Consequently, I got high grades and ranking in university and finished it in three years. I could get my masters without an entrance exam at my University, because of my high ranking, which was the dream of my classmates but I refused it to go and chase a bigger dream.
After graduation, I applied for the GKS program through embassy track and I got rejected but since it was my goal to study tourism in Korea I did not apply for any European or American universities. Instead, I realized that I lack knowledge and experience in my field of study so I came from my hometown to the capital to work and gain experience in the Tourism industry and to realize what I want to gain in life. During this 2 years gap after graduation, I worked in two travel agencies in the tourism contents section and produced tourism related contents on websites and social media about attractions and cultures of my country and others. Also, I worked in a Quarterly Tourism magazine named "Gilgamesh" as a translator and writer and participated in many conferences and event planning projects. In one of these projects named Etravelgram, we started to popularize unknown cities and attractions of Iran by using social media influencers and that was a very successful project. I also participated in translating a book named "100 reasons to visit Iran" which is in the process of publishing. In one of my articles in Gilgamesh magazine, I wrote about a Persian language institute that teaches the Persian language to foreigners and it was so interesting for me to know that we have something familiar to Sejong Institute in our country. (This edition of the magazine will be published in April). Moreover, I started solo traveling through my country to have deep cultural interaction with people and to identify the needs and tourism potentials of each city and destination. Furthermore, by leading so many incoming tours as a tour guide, I got praised in one of the Austrian newspapers as a cultural ambassador.
Because of my interest in Korea (both North and South), I started to read more about its history, politics, and society. The outcome was four articles with these topics "Korean food and deserts" " Hanbok" "Hangul" and "chopsticks" that are published on the Karnaval tourism website in the Persian language. Also, I studied the Korean Language for two semesters In Sejong Institute. After hearing about Kpop idols coming to Dubai, I went all the way to participate in SM Entertainment concert in Dubai and there I got to realize the power of Korean wave which is also found its way in the Middle East.
Through my journey to touch Korean Culture and get acquainted with it, I found also some difficulties and barriers. South Korea is very well known among the young generation In Iran but for normal people and academic communities, it is deeply unknown. For writing my articles about Hanbok I had to go to our national library and in a special place named Korea Corner, I could find the books I wanted. But the access to the books was limited and access to the library has restrictions too. So I realized how limited contents are out there about Korea and how can I help by studying culture and tourism contents to produce more books and academic articles. I really want to translate those English and Korean books to Persian and of course, translate some cultural books about Iran to Korean because I am sure how limited information is out there about my country in Korea too.
By counting all my teenage days till now, it's been fifteen years that South Korea has captivated my heart and mind in every way. I have spent half my life watching their dramas, TV shows, listening to their songs, finding Korean friends, reading about their history and culture, learning their language and etc. I think I have become half Iranian and half Korean. After all, it has also affected my education and career path. Tourism has always been my favorite major and dream career and South Korea is the country that has been very successful in this field according to "progress of challenges in Korean Tourism studies" article by Shin Yongseok. Why I choose South Korea over western countries? Because I am living in an Asian country and I believe that using western methods and theories are not necessarily responsive in all aspects of Asian societies due to different cultural context. South Korea seems to find its strategies by giving a uniqueness to its country that cannot be seen in any other countries though it has some weaknesses. They need more academic contents and diverse research topics and I wish I can be a help in this challenge.
GKS aims to deepen the mutual friendship between South Korea and countries all around the world and also Kyung Hee University's goal is to "make a cultural world for humanity", these goals are in the same line of my goals. Getting admission from Kyung Hee University with its powerful Tourism department is not just a chance of studying for me. In the hard days of experiencing sanctions in my country, Living alone in a big city and fighting for my dreams, life has shown its tough side to me. I have gone all the way and tried hard every single day to fit the standards of South Korea's high academic standards. I also did much more than I wrote here. Many volunteer works and also participating in a UNESCO Project in gastronomy. I did all my best and winning this scholarship is a hope for a brighter future and a new life experience.
