Reason Why You Decided to Apply
The reason I applied to the SECOND program was because I wanted to challenge myself. By participating in SECOND, I thought I could experience a lot of new things, such as going to Southeast Asia and conducting surveys amongst people whose native language is different from mine, doing group work with APU students in different colleges and years while overseas, and searching for hotels and restaurants in a country I’ve never visited before. Also, I wanted to learn about a different cultural environment in ways you only can by experiencing it first hand – not only in terms of the language, but also in terms of food, daily life, the ambiance, etc., so I applied to the program.
How the Program Helped You Grow
Through this program, I was able to further develop my skills, such as my communication skills, and increase my capacity for introspection. I thought about how I should speak to the local residents, as well as how we, as a group, should speak and act towards each other in order to overcome intragroup conflicts, and then worked to improve our teamwork. In addition, through the self-reflection activities at the end of each day and at the end of the program, I was able to reaffirm the importance of deep self-reflection.
Message for Students Interested in The Program
The SECOND Program is a short program – only two weeks long – but it is a uniquely fulfilling experience! Through this program, I was able to experience all kinds of struggles and pleasures. I tried new things and experienced the difficulties of working in a group, as well as the joys of participating in an overseas program. If you want to try something new, or if you're at all curious, I highly recommend you join this program!
