I am a firm believer that we always have room for improvement, whether it be in skills or in knowledge. Since childhood I have been determined to improve my own knowledge or skill set to be a well-rounded individual. In order to achieve this goal, I have often left my own comfort zone in order to improve myself in ways that I could not achieve inside my own familiar bubble. Whether exploring new hobbies and learning about a variety of topics to broaden my skill set, or taking chances in a drastically different environment for the opportunity to learn something new, my experiences and goals demonstrate that there is always something new to learn and to appreciate about the world around me, and has led me to fluency in a foreign language and a wealth of international experience, albeit at the expense of other opportunities.

 

A Jack of all Trades

 

I have always been curious about everything. As a child growing up in the Boy Scouts, I was drawn to a variety of different merit badges and activities that quenched my thirst for knowledge. Even outside a formal program, I have made efforts to learn about a variety of different topics, from board games to finance, so that I can always contribute to the conversation. The phrase, “Jack of all trades and master of none” sounds like a fitting way to describe the way I have approached learning, but there are also interests that I prioritized beyond the elementary knowledge of other subject areas. My dedication to language learning will always be a lifelong endeavor, and I strive to improve my Korean proficiency for the rest of my life, no matter how well I may score on standardized proficiency exams. Learning about a variety of topics and mastering subject areas are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other and demonstrate my willingness to learn new skills and information as opposed to satisfaction with the status quo.

 

Take a Leap of Faith

 

After leaving the Army, I knew I wanted to return to South Korea, where I had spent a few months of my military service. With no background in English education and only a basic grasp of the Korean language, I found a job at a school that had recently come under new management. During my year as an English teacher, I discovered an entirely new world of information and experiences to ingest, from new food and culture to understanding the local politics and issues facing the country. I gained a greater appreciation and breadth of knowledge about Korea only by making a leap of faith into an environment where I was not assured that everything would work out for the better. However, by taking that chance I was able to learn more about life outside my comfort zone and discover new interests and talents at the expense of leaving my life in the United States behind. I spent almost one year away from my friends and family, missing crucial life events like engagements and the birth of friend’s new children. I found that despite those missed life events, I am encouraged to continue taking chances by throwing myself into unfamiliar environments for the sake of learning more about the world around me. I have applied this practice to many aspects of my life, from exploring new professions to enthusiastically opening myself up to new hobbies and experiences in my personal life.

 

It is impossible for one person to know it all, but I pride myself on being able to talk about an array of topics, even at a simple conversational level, while continuously mastering a select few. This endless thirst for knowledge applies to everything I do, from academic research to hobbies and other interests. There is value in attaining knowledge about a variety of topics in order to become a well-rounded individual, but sometimes gaining that knowledge requires taking chances and making sacrifices, be it money or time with friends and family. In a world with an almost limitless number of experiences and knowledge to be gained, the benefits are often worth the risks.