BREZHNEVA SERAFIMA

College of Asia Pacific Studies

Program

SECOND

Key Information

Program Location/Partner University	Malaysia, Thailand
Year of Participation	February - March, 2026
Program Length	Approx. 2 weeks

Reason Why You Decided to Apply

I decided to apply for SECOND because I wanted to improve my oral presentation skills, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Since I am majoring in APS, CSM, I was considering this fieldwork program to be beneficial for my studies of Malaysian and Thai cultures, gaining a deeper understanding of media in each country, and research in architectural design. Moreover, I had been struggling with giving presentations at university due to a lack of confidence and limited experience. It seemed that the fieldwork would help me improve public speaking skills since there are multiple oral presentations required during SECOND.

What do you hope to gain from participating in the program and how will you apply it to your future undergraduate studies or career?

As I intend to work for an international company in the future, SECOND provided me with a remarkable opportunity to challenge myself by working in a group with people from diverse backgrounds. During the fieldwork, I aimed to develop soft skills such as stress management, a critical mindset when working in a group, and problem-solving under pressure. They are socially contextualized skills that are often underestimated, yet essential since the world is built on human relationships. Consequently, adaptability and the ability to shift one’s perspective matter more than theoretical knowledge while working or studying. Understanding when and how to apply these skills requires lived experience - exactly the kind that SECOND is designed to provide.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

Thanks to SECOND, I had the opportunity to experience the joy of community and international connection while working in the team. The circumstances of the group work encouraged me to become flexible and accepting, which contributed significantly to stress management and effective problem-solving. Although the program brings many positive emotions, it might be extremely challenging both physically (due to weather conditions and the constant need to work in the group while traveling between locations) and mentally, so everyone applying should be mindful of this aspect! Other than that, SECOND can be a vital steppingstone toward developing emotional intelligence, resilience, and character development. I highly recommend participating in SECOND!