The Retrospective on 2024

It has been a truly eventful year, one filled with growth, challenges, setbacks, and recoveries. Like every year, this one brought its share of major changes.

From January to June, I was in New York as an exchange student at NYU. Though it has only been six months since then, it already feels like a distant past. My time there was deeply fulfilling and gave me four priceless things: learning, living, friendship, and travel.

Attending NYU lectures was meaningful in itself, and the content was remarkably enriching. My organic chemistry professor, in particular, was brilliant, thoroughly checking students’ understanding and striving constantly to make the class more effective. The overall atmosphere felt quite different from KAIST in the best way possible. Even though I did not use all the facilities myself, they were impressively well equipped.

I can now confidently say I have experienced life in New York. I learned firsthand what to eat, where to go, how to work, earn money, and find accommodation in the United States. While most things could be resolved through online platforms, some required direct dealings with the government. The university offered great support, and these experiences will definitely help me if I ever visit the United States again for travel or work.

I also made many friends. At first, I doubted how close I could get to people in just six months, but the answer came through church. At least three friends I met there have become close enough that I would love to meet them again if I return to the States. I also befriended a few Korean Americans and reconnected with friends from Chicago. Most memorably, the group chat with the nine KAIST exchange students I went with is still active and full of life.

I traveled a lot across the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is hard to believe I still have not organized all my photos yet.

After returning to Korea in early June, I took a short break and then joined the SKKU IBS Neuroscience Summer School. It functioned much like a research internship. I had heard about it from a graduate student I met at Professor Jung Beomseok’s lab conference last year and decided to apply this April. Originally, it was a one-month program, but I extended it to two months, from June through August, because I had free time during the break and found the experiments fascinating.

My research focused on whether mice with PTSD perform well in avoidance learning. The lab had a well-built mouse VR track system, which we used to design an experiment measuring how effectively the mice avoided aversive stimuli. It was an innovative approach combining several existing methods, and the results turned out quite good. More than the outcome, I was captivated by the research process itself. Most participants stayed for only a month, but one other student and I stayed for two. Professor HyungGoo R. Kim was generous with guidance and support throughout.

Outside of research, life in Suwon was just as satisfying. The campus buildings were stunning, especially the library, and the people were wonderful. Everyone in the lab welcomed me warmly, and I quickly felt at home. Workdays were productive, and in the evenings we often played badminton together, which eventually became one of my hobbies. I still keep in touch with several friends from the summer school and trust that they are all doing well.

September marked the start of the fall semester. I began the term with great ambition, and that passion still continues. I mainly retook courses to raise my GPA, and thankfully met my own expectations. This meant I shared many classes with freshmen, which was an interesting experience.

I also conducted an independent research project under Professor Ain Chung, exploring a topic similar to my summer research. Although the results were not as strong as I had hoped, the process taught me a great deal. The lab atmosphere was friendly and supportive, making the semester truly memorable.

And then there was Moontt, my Korean literature club and second family in Daejeon. My passion for literature might not be as intense as some of my teammates’, but the time we spend together is irreplaceable. The clubroom was the place I spent the most time after the lab. We even formed a badminton group called “Ratt,” sharing countless dinners, laughter, and a memorable trip to Busan. These memories have become a quiet strength that keeps me grounded.

Speaking of travel, I recall going to Jeju Island with my NYU friends. During my time in the United States, I traveled to a new city almost every weekend, and those trips hold some of my happiest memories. I wanted to recreate that in Korea, though finding travel companions turned out to be harder than expected. Still, I managed to visit places like Jeju and Busan, and I would love to keep traveling. So if anyone is up for it, I am looking for a travel buddy. Let’s go somewhere together.

Between Seoul and Daejeon, I have met so many new friends. It has become somewhat of a hobby for me, meeting good people everywhere I go and building genuine friendships. Sharing emotions, ideals, and time with others, and truly caring for one another, feels deeply meaningful to me. I really love people. Meeting friends and spending time together has brought me so much joy this winter. My dopamine clearly comes from human connection. My network of people is both my greatest strength and my most valuable asset, and it is within these relationships that I keep growing.

That concludes my reflection on 2024. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.