Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm working on studying abroad for the summer semester to Suwon, South Korea :3 I found a really good program that was the cheapest, and actually offered more than any other program. Including extra excursions that came with as opposed to paying extra. The hard part is just getting all your stuff together, recomendations, writing your essay, funding, and then getting your pass port. I was told to plan six months in advance so I started funding a year in advance.

Now I'm mainly just filling out lots of scholarships and I just need my pass port and then course approval list.

Be sure to mention what makes you stand out as a study abroad student for your scholarships (underrepresented groups). For example you are a community college student (very rare in study abroad), so you can really bring that out in your essay. Are you a first generatopm college student? are you classified as a minority, are you going to a non-traditional location (places that don't speak English usually lol) there are a few others but those are some things that can help your case. You may also look into the FEA (fund education abroad) scholarship because they're big at helping people who are underrepresented in study abroad. And lots of private scholarships lol. I like to mention studying abroad as one of my goals and then just brag about your accomplishments like with any other scholarship.

ohhh and to answer your question haha, I'm gonna be taking another Korean language course (I did really well on my first one o- o, taking a beginning 2 this semester) and then a history course on North and South Korea.

I'm actually considering teaching in Busan, South Korea through the public school system after I graduate and get TESOL certified (teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) :3 but I wanted to study abroad first because that would give me an idea of if this is really the right path for me.

The biggest factor for me was just funding, at the moment it's interesting because my mom got laid off last year and her severance ends this February. We're doing a payment plan now at my university (I transferred over too biggrin I transferred 71 credits over, the limit was like 72). and it only allows us two installments instead of three (which they advertised >.> wink so my mom was wondering how we would make that one, so if they're not able to I would pay for that one. So since a lot of it is up in the air, I'm trying to fill out lots of scholarship essays haha.

That's pretty respectable. I hope that works out. I wonder if those programs like GoFundMe really have a good turnout if you publicly advertise. I have a lot to take care of first, moving out from where I am, getting my own place so I have some sanity left in me. I like sitting and organizing my finances so I have an idea of where I am, where I want to go, what I want to do.

I imagine that IS the biggest obstacle a lot of potential students face. I remember when my mom was laid off work after she got pneumonia and I had to find a way to pay for rent AND bills until she could recover, so the struggle is definitely real and I hope that all works out for you. Teaching is such a great profession, especially when it comes to other languages. I feel like you're better off seeking a job overseas than locally. That's why I didn't pursue being a teacher, myself. Though I wager if I like being overseas enough, I'll follow after one of my friends who is teaching in China and do something like that.

I want to explore all the opportunities in college I missed or didn't take in high school and trade school.

I think all in all it really depends on how much you're trying to earn, how much you're able to save, what you can get from scholarships, what your circumstances are, and then how much time you have lol. Another fun thing is when you do find the program you like, look for facebook groups for that program and talk to past students, (be sure to mention these in your scholarship essays btw, it shows you're really interested).

What was trade school like? :3

[ Took notes~ ]

Difficult but very rewarding. I wasn't ready for college yet, and I couldn't get into the Air Force. I went to a Job Corps for Culinary. Two year scholarship, but I graduated in eleven months. I should have stayed to do another trade, but I had a family emergency I was eager to help handle. We were out in Kentucky on government property, so we weren't allowed to leave campus like some Job Corps let ya'.

I ended up doing welding for four months, did a trade transfer to Computer Tech. I became trade chief there after a couple of months--which means I got to teach the class since our instructor's primary job was a fitness trainer and that took up most of her time.

I was SGA Secretary--while I was trying for president, that's about when I found out about the family emergency and when it turned out I ended up staying, I missed elections by a day. One of my CT students couldn't handle the duties and nominated me to take his place so I accepted it until I graduated. I was a student leader, a campus guide. I had a seat on the fact-finding board for students in danger of being terminated from the program. I was a dorm coordinator so I was responsible for my dorm's supply. I was my dorm rep for our recreation committee.

It was hard, really, hard. You deal with a lot of students who don't want to be there. Some are court-ordered to be there. The rules can be difficult. The drama is real. The struggle is real. But I swear, if you stick to it, you come out with some good friends, references, memories, and a damn good lookin' resume. My particular campus has one of the better reputations despite how small it is, and my outreach and admissions counselor sent me there 'by mistake'. But really, it was probably the best 'mistake' he had ever made for me.