Hello! As you can see, I am going through the application process for GKS and could use some help. I don't really have any experience in my desired field except for what I have mentioned in the essay itself, but I'm wondering whether I should add my passion for calculus, physics and other subjects to make me seem like a better candidate. Also, I don't really know if the structure of my essay fits the requirements as it is my first time applying for GKS. Thank you!!
Instructions that were provided by the GKS themselves:
The essay should include the following items.
- Motivations with which you apply for this program
- Educational background
- Significant experiences you have had; persons or events that have had a significant influence on you
- Extracurricular activities such as club activities, community service activities or work experiences
- If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired, etc.
My essay:
My father was the first in his family to attend university, moving from his small town to the capital. His father had been the first to establish a fairly successful business, and before him, his father was the first to send his son to school. Each generation built on the achievements of the one before, and I grew up understanding that education was the foundation of progress in our family.
Living in the capital, I rarely had the chance to visit my grandfather in Tokmok, so it was a special occasion when I visited him for the first time at the age of six. A large man with a belly as round as his smile, he welcomed me with such warmth that it left an eternal mark on my memory. After showing me around his home, he guided me to a room that smelled of wood, tea, and a faint trace of cigarettes. Anywhere you tried to look the walls were lined with bookshelves overflowing with volumes. "Have you read them all?" I asked, wide-eyed. He smiled and nodded slowly. At that moment, I understood that education wasn't just about knowledge - it was about the journey of self-improvement and the legacy we leave behind. And each generation dreams even bigger because the ones that came before allowed us to dream big.
This is something I carry with me every day. The excellent education I have been fortunate to receive would not have been possible without the sacrifices of my family. For that, I am deeply grateful. Yet, I feel an immense responsibility to build on their efforts, to jump even higher than the generations before me. My dream is to contribute something meaningful to the next generation of Kyrgyz people - to provide them with opportunities just as my ancestors have done for me. However, as I navigated through my first year of high school, I found myself torn between many interests without knowing where my contribution would lie. I did not know where to steer my ship or what direction the tides of life would take me.
Art was my first love. There was something about creating entirely new things, things that had never existed before. Art allowed me to unleash my creativity and express emotions that I could not always put into words. Yet, as much as I loved art, I began to realize that simply drawing attention to problems was not enough for me. At our school's annual art competition, I submitted a drawing of a little girl with a bright smile and a heavy, hairy hand around her neck - a hand that represented her father. Even at such a young age, I understood that I was one of the fortunate ones whose family supported me without limiting my future to traditional expectations like marriage or domesticity. And, most importantly, while I do understand that is is the bare minimum you could be provided with, I am grateful for never feeling not secure in my own home - something that only few of Kyrgyz women are fortunate to experience. The drawing was a powerful portrayal of the flourishing DV in our country, and my family was proud. But as I received yet another first prize, I stood there, holding the cold, gold-painted plastic trophy, and felt a void. My artistic nature craved more than just expression - I wanted action and tangible results. Art allowed me to see problems clearly, but it did not provide a path to solving them. I began to realize that I needed more than art to feel fulfilled.
That is why, around the same time, I started my volunteering journey with the Interact Club of Bishkek (a youth-led charity organization). I saw this as a way to contribute more directly to the community and help those in need. One of our projects, which the team would work on for a month, was decided through member presentations and voting. I proposed organizing a debate tournament, with all the earned money going to charity. Since I held an active position as a president in the english debate community, it would be easier for me to gather support and promote the event among my fellow debaters. I was responsible for collecting donations and securing help from businesses and companies willing to contribute. After the voting, my project won by more than 50% of the votes. The tournament was a huge success, raising around 41,000 KGS (about 486 USD). All the money went to a local cancer treatment center, and we got to spend time with some of the most amazing, strong, and loving people I have ever met. Leaving the hospital, I could not help but tear up at how unfair the world is. While I knew that every contribution made a difference, I began to realize that I wanted to do even more. I saw that to create long-lasting change, I needed to find ways to address problems on a larger scale. It was during another visit to a center sheltering people with limited abilities, many of whom had no one else to turn to, that I made the difficult decision to quit volunteering in its traditional form. It was not because I had lost faith in the work - I continued implementing volunteer work as a Bright International School's first president - but because I saw an opportunity to help on a much larger scale through technology.
Within the same week, I signed up for our school's engineering and robotics club. It was the perfect intersection of everything I loved - creative problem-solving, design, and practical application. I vividly remember my first project: building a lion that was supposed to roar when touched. Instead, mine roared too loudly and only quieted when petted - an unintended quirk but one that ensured me of my joy in creating things that interacted with the world around them. Right now, I am working on a more ambitious project with a team of aspiring software, 3D printing, AI, and robotics engineers. Together, we aim to create an easy-to-use device that will help the blind community in Bishkek. This device will be the first-ever Kyrgyz text-to-Braille converter, which people with limited sight will be able to use independently without the need for caretakers. This project is especially significant in Kyrgyzstan, where few resources exist for people with disabilities and where, no matter how hard you look, the only Braille text you ever see is on the elevator buttons. I did the interface and the product design for the device, and I will be helping assemble the first prototype. We hope to secure donations to make the device available for free at special stations around the city and, hopefully, across the country in the near future.
Now, for the first time, I feel like I am moving in the right direction and have found a path I want to follow forever. And to pursue this path I need to take more steps. Like my grandpa always said, "Higher education is something incredibly important and meaningful since it is the place where like minds meet and opportunities grow." Based on my test results, I could be accepted anywhere in our country, but I realize that staying here will limit my potential. The technological field in Kyrgyzstan is still lagging, with many universities still relying on outdated teaching methods and information from the USSR era. That is why I want to, like my father, step out of my comfort zone and seek new opportunities somewhere where they are widely available. I chose Korea because of its reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation. Korea's advancements in brain-computer interfaces, quantum computers, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other cutting-edge technologies align perfectly with my aspirations in mechanical engineering. Immersing myself in such an innovative environment will not only challenge me academically but also help me connect with inspiring people with similar values.
Currently, my family is facing financial challenges as they work to support the education and living expenses of their four children. My father is actively seeking a new position, and while we remain hopeful that our situation will improve, I do not want to add to the burden on my parents, who have already sacrificed so much. The Global Korea Scholarship represents not only the best chance for me to pursue my dreams but also a way to honor my family's legacy by building something meaningful for future generations to come. With the support of this scholarship, I can take the next step in realizing my vision of contributing to a brighter future for Kyrgyzstan, Korea, and, hopefully, the world. Even now, as I prepare to apply for the scholarship, I have already been inspired by the brilliant individuals I have met - fellow applicants who share the same passion for learning and ambition for the future. With the Global Korea Scholarship, I will not only fulfill my dream of becoming a leader in mechanical engineering but also ensure that the sacrifices of my family and the legacy of those who came before me continue to pave the way for future generations to dream even bigger, achieve even more, and create a world where innovation knows no boundaries.
Instructions that were provided by the GKS themselves:
The essay should include the following items.
- Motivations with which you apply for this program
- Educational background
- Significant experiences you have had; persons or events that have had a significant influence on you
- Extracurricular activities such as club activities, community service activities or work experiences
- If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired, etc.
My essay:
My father was the first in his family to attend university, moving from his small town to the capital. His father had been the first to establish a fairly successful business, and before him, his father was the first to send his son to school. Each generation built on the achievements of the one before, and I grew up understanding that education was the foundation of progress in our family.
Living in the capital, I rarely had the chance to visit my grandfather in Tokmok, so it was a special occasion when I visited him for the first time at the age of six. A large man with a belly as round as his smile, he welcomed me with such warmth that it left an eternal mark on my memory. After showing me around his home, he guided me to a room that smelled of wood, tea, and a faint trace of cigarettes. Anywhere you tried to look the walls were lined with bookshelves overflowing with volumes. "Have you read them all?" I asked, wide-eyed. He smiled and nodded slowly. At that moment, I understood that education wasn't just about knowledge - it was about the journey of self-improvement and the legacy we leave behind. And each generation dreams even bigger because the ones that came before allowed us to dream big.
This is something I carry with me every day. The excellent education I have been fortunate to receive would not have been possible without the sacrifices of my family. For that, I am deeply grateful. Yet, I feel an immense responsibility to build on their efforts, to jump even higher than the generations before me. My dream is to contribute something meaningful to the next generation of Kyrgyz people - to provide them with opportunities just as my ancestors have done for me. However, as I navigated through my first year of high school, I found myself torn between many interests without knowing where my contribution would lie. I did not know where to steer my ship or what direction the tides of life would take me.
Art was my first love. There was something about creating entirely new things, things that had never existed before. Art allowed me to unleash my creativity and express emotions that I could not always put into words. Yet, as much as I loved art, I began to realize that simply drawing attention to problems was not enough for me. At our school's annual art competition, I submitted a drawing of a little girl with a bright smile and a heavy, hairy hand around her neck - a hand that represented her father. Even at such a young age, I understood that I was one of the fortunate ones whose family supported me without limiting my future to traditional expectations like marriage or domesticity. And, most importantly, while I do understand that is is the bare minimum you could be provided with, I am grateful for never feeling not secure in my own home - something that only few of Kyrgyz women are fortunate to experience. The drawing was a powerful portrayal of the flourishing DV in our country, and my family was proud. But as I received yet another first prize, I stood there, holding the cold, gold-painted plastic trophy, and felt a void. My artistic nature craved more than just expression - I wanted action and tangible results. Art allowed me to see problems clearly, but it did not provide a path to solving them. I began to realize that I needed more than art to feel fulfilled.
That is why, around the same time, I started my volunteering journey with the Interact Club of Bishkek (a youth-led charity organization). I saw this as a way to contribute more directly to the community and help those in need. One of our projects, which the team would work on for a month, was decided through member presentations and voting. I proposed organizing a debate tournament, with all the earned money going to charity. Since I held an active position as a president in the english debate community, it would be easier for me to gather support and promote the event among my fellow debaters. I was responsible for collecting donations and securing help from businesses and companies willing to contribute. After the voting, my project won by more than 50% of the votes. The tournament was a huge success, raising around 41,000 KGS (about 486 USD). All the money went to a local cancer treatment center, and we got to spend time with some of the most amazing, strong, and loving people I have ever met. Leaving the hospital, I could not help but tear up at how unfair the world is. While I knew that every contribution made a difference, I began to realize that I wanted to do even more. I saw that to create long-lasting change, I needed to find ways to address problems on a larger scale. It was during another visit to a center sheltering people with limited abilities, many of whom had no one else to turn to, that I made the difficult decision to quit volunteering in its traditional form. It was not because I had lost faith in the work - I continued implementing volunteer work as a Bright International School's first president - but because I saw an opportunity to help on a much larger scale through technology.
Within the same week, I signed up for our school's engineering and robotics club. It was the perfect intersection of everything I loved - creative problem-solving, design, and practical application. I vividly remember my first project: building a lion that was supposed to roar when touched. Instead, mine roared too loudly and only quieted when petted - an unintended quirk but one that ensured me of my joy in creating things that interacted with the world around them. Right now, I am working on a more ambitious project with a team of aspiring software, 3D printing, AI, and robotics engineers. Together, we aim to create an easy-to-use device that will help the blind community in Bishkek. This device will be the first-ever Kyrgyz text-to-Braille converter, which people with limited sight will be able to use independently without the need for caretakers. This project is especially significant in Kyrgyzstan, where few resources exist for people with disabilities and where, no matter how hard you look, the only Braille text you ever see is on the elevator buttons. I did the interface and the product design for the device, and I will be helping assemble the first prototype. We hope to secure donations to make the device available for free at special stations around the city and, hopefully, across the country in the near future.
Now, for the first time, I feel like I am moving in the right direction and have found a path I want to follow forever. And to pursue this path I need to take more steps. Like my grandpa always said, "Higher education is something incredibly important and meaningful since it is the place where like minds meet and opportunities grow." Based on my test results, I could be accepted anywhere in our country, but I realize that staying here will limit my potential. The technological field in Kyrgyzstan is still lagging, with many universities still relying on outdated teaching methods and information from the USSR era. That is why I want to, like my father, step out of my comfort zone and seek new opportunities somewhere where they are widely available. I chose Korea because of its reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation. Korea's advancements in brain-computer interfaces, quantum computers, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other cutting-edge technologies align perfectly with my aspirations in mechanical engineering. Immersing myself in such an innovative environment will not only challenge me academically but also help me connect with inspiring people with similar values.
Currently, my family is facing financial challenges as they work to support the education and living expenses of their four children. My father is actively seeking a new position, and while we remain hopeful that our situation will improve, I do not want to add to the burden on my parents, who have already sacrificed so much. The Global Korea Scholarship represents not only the best chance for me to pursue my dreams but also a way to honor my family's legacy by building something meaningful for future generations to come. With the support of this scholarship, I can take the next step in realizing my vision of contributing to a brighter future for Kyrgyzstan, Korea, and, hopefully, the world. Even now, as I prepare to apply for the scholarship, I have already been inspired by the brilliant individuals I have met - fellow applicants who share the same passion for learning and ambition for the future. With the Global Korea Scholarship, I will not only fulfill my dream of becoming a leader in mechanical engineering but also ensure that the sacrifices of my family and the legacy of those who came before me continue to pave the way for future generations to dream even bigger, achieve even more, and create a world where innovation knows no boundaries.
