Page 27 - 04/2022 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin1

ALUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIES
AA Issue no. 4 | 2022
Alumni To Korea With Love

Since my teenage years 16 years ago, I have had this By Nurul Syafiqah Hasbullah
goal - ‘No matter what, I have to go to Korea!’. I love the Department of East Asian Studies
language, the culture, and I wanted to see the beautiful 2010-2014
country with my own eyes. I promised myself that I Korean Language Lecturer
would make it happen; that I would visit Korea, either to
travel or to work or even study. During those days Korea
wasn’t as popular a travel destination as it is nowadays.
Some people hardly knew where it was. So when I first
got to know that the East Asian Studies Department,
FASS was offering a course in Korean Studies , it was
like an answer to my dreams. I had finally found the way
To add the cherry on top of the cake, my mother is an
FASS alumni. She graduated from the Department of
History in 1988. I took it as a sign - to continue with her
legacy as I achieved my long-standing dream. So in
2010, the journey began!

As any student from UM would tell you, the Minggu
Haluansiswa (Orientation Week) was phenomenal.
During the department’s introductions, I was highly
impressed by course offerings at FASS; my department,
the Department of East Asian Studies offered several
student exchange programmes to Japan, China and
Korea. It was exciting to make new friends and meet the
lecturers. I had already decided to major in Korean In Korea for Masters and working
Studies with a minor in History. The decision was chance to participate in the Youth Camp for Asia’s Future
fortunate since my major and minor complimented 2012 and it was going to be held in South Korea. Adding
each other and I was able to maintain a competitive to that, the Department of East Asian Studies organized a
CGPAs throughout the semesters. field trip called ‘The Outbound Programme in South
Korea’ where the students in Korean Studies were given a
chance to actually visit South Korea.This added fuel to the
But that came with a lot of hard work. I remember how fire; I studied harder as I chased my dream.
my friends and I studied day and night, often staying
back in the library. Despite the struggles, we laughed, I kept challenging myself, and throughout my 3 and half
made memories, and supported each other. All that years at FASS, I did not lose sight of my dream or the
hard work did pay off at the end of the day. Till this day, opportunities given to me. I was given a chance to
it is those bittersweet moments of the university days participate in a 6 months exchange program in Hallym
that I miss the most. University, South Korea. I won 2nd place in the Korean
Embassy’s Korean Speech Contest, and was placed on the
I enjoyed every bit of the learning process; Apart from dean’s list for 6 semesters and finally, graduated in 2014
helping me move closer to my dream, I appreciate the with a 1st class degree. Here I would like to take some
knowledge gained as it widened my perspective and time to thank Dr Park Chang Kyoo who continued to
made me wiser. I was blessed with the full support of encourage me to further pursue a Masters Degree in
lecturers and professors. A good CGPA score brought a Hanyang University, South Korea, majoring in Korean

PULSE invites alumni members of FASS to share with us their share of history and the amazing things they have
done since graduating. Please send your articles directly to vilasomiah@um.edu.my (Dr. Vilashini Somiah, Co-
Editor- in- Chief), vandana@um.edu.my (Dr. Vandana Saxena, Co-Editor-in-Chief) or nadhwah@um.edu.my (Ms.
Nadhwah Tul Iman Mizam, Asst. Ed-in-Chief).
We are also open to receiving donations and any feedback, suggestions and questions as well.

27 | Pulse @ FASS