Three Years of Hard Work, in Exchange for the Most Brilliant Year — Unknowingly, I Was Already Prepared | Department of Finance, Feng Chia University – Hsin-Tzu Kao

When I first entered Feng Chia University, it was during the peak of the pandemic. In my freshman and sophomore years, I frequently switched between remote and in-person classes. It wasn’t until the summer between my sophomore and junior years that I joined a summer study tour at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. During that month, I attended classes and collaborated on English presentations with friends from different countries for the first time. These challenges were both new and unfamiliar to me at the time, but I was surprised to discover that I could actually do it.

Graduation ceremony of the summer study tour at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea.

Full-Year Exchange at Chung-Ang University, Korea

Because of my experience at Sungkyunkwan University, I was determined to see a broader world. In my senior year, I applied for a full-year exchange at Chung-Ang University in Korea. I was also keenly aware of my language limitations, so in the semester before going abroad, I specifically enrolled in several EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) courses and continued to study Korean, allowing myself to adapt more quickly to local classes and life.

As I often remind myself: “It’s always better to be prepared than unprepared.”

It’s always better to be prepared than unprepared.

Unforgettable Memories at the Global Fair

During my exchange year, the Global Fair was definitely one of the most unforgettable events. It was a cultural exchange festival gathering students from all over the world, with each country setting up a booth to introduce itself. I brought many Taiwanese candies and snacks, and even wore a badge written in Korean saying “I am from Taiwan.” My booth was always filled with laughter and surprises.Besides introducing Taiwan, I also visited other countries’ booths, experienced different cultural activities, and made many new friends. This made me realize that cultural exchange is not a one-way display, but about interaction, sharing, and experience.

Participated in the Global Fair in the first semester.

Participated in the Global Fair in the second semester.

Celebrating together with a toast at the German booth during the Global Fair.

The Honor of Being a Chinese GSI

In my second semester as an exchange student, I was honored to be selected as a Chinese GSI (Global Student Internship). Standing out among many students from Chinese-speaking countries and representing Chinese was a rare honor for me.Although the demand for Chinese was not as high as for other languages, this made my communication style more flexible. I often conversed with visiting students in English, sharing Taiwan’s tourist attractions and cuisine, turning the office into a “cultural exchange station.” Many students were deeply impressed by Taiwan, and I gained many cross-national friendships. This experience made me realize that the value of language exchange lies not only in the language itself, but also in cultural connection and understanding.

Served as a Chinese GSI (Global Student Internship) at Chung-Ang University, Korea.

GLAM&GSI Hang out.

Surprises On and Off Campus

Living on campus, the university anniversary week was definitely the highlight of the year. I not only attended the Doosan baseball team’s game and experienced the full Korean cheering culture, but also saw performances by Aespa, Stayc, and NCT Dream. The atmosphere was like a New Year’s Eve concert, and I deeply felt the sense of identity and passion Korean students have for their alma mater.In my spare time, I explored Korea by various means of transportation: taking the KTX to Busan for my first surfing experience, taking an express bus to Gangwon-do to taste seafood and visit filming locations of “Goblin,” taking the subway to Suwon to visit historical sites and museums, and even flying domestically to Yeosu, reaching a southern coastal city in just one hour. Each journey brought me different surprises and memories.

Especially my first skiing experience—even though I fell countless times, it taught me: “Where you fall, you stand up」

The life of an exchange student abroad is all about experiencing it to the fullest—skiing, surfing, university anniversary baseball games, and even taking a photo with the President of Chung-Ang University.

The Most Wonderful Final Year of University

During the study tour at Sungkyunkwan University, I realized my language shortcomings, which motivated me to quietly improve afterward. Unknowingly, I found that I had already prepared everything, so I could truly enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling exchange year without any burden. As the saying goes, “It’s always better to be prepared than unprepared,” which perfectly sums up my three years of effort and the rewards of my final year.

Looking back on this year, I am most grateful for the hard work of the past three years. Because I completed 128 credits and certification exams within three years, and finished my interdisciplinary project early in my sophomore year, I was able to spend my entire senior year abroad on exchange without worrying about delaying graduation.

This year was not just about going abroad, but about fully immersing myself in a foreign environment and embracing challenges and experiences. From classes to activities, from campus to travel, every day was filled with learning and growth. More importantly, I met many precious people who filled this period with happiness and laughter.To you who are reading this, perhaps you feel that preparation is still far away, but as long as you accumulate step by step, when the opportunity comes, you will find that you are already ready to explore the world.

What I am most grateful for is the hard work of the past three years, which allowed me to spend my entire senior year abroad on exchange without any worries.