Imagine living nearly 8,000 miles from home, learning a new language and occupation, raising a child and getting settled with your spouse in a different country. It sounds daunting doesn鈥檛 it? Just spend five minutes with Kyung “Jin” Park, a master鈥檚 degree seeking student from South Korea and you鈥檒l learn it鈥檚 all been worth it thanks to his experience as lifeguard at the 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Korean military dispatched Jin, as his friends call him, to the United States and 麻豆原创 in July 2015 with his 2-year-old son Jihoo and wife Mia. Captain Jin Park has been in the South Korean military for 14 years. He received an undergraduate degree at the Korean Military Academy (similar to West Point here in the U.S.) in environmental science. As part of his military career he鈥檚 pursuing his master鈥檚 degree in industrial engineering.
Jin learned about the RWC during the International Affairs and Global Strategies (IAGS) student orientation. He attended the RWC fall 2015 job fair after talking to a lifeguard after working out one day at the lap pool. He says working at 麻豆原创 has improved his overall campus experience, 鈥淚 wanted to work here (Recreation and Wellness Center Aquatics) as a lifeguard to make friends and have experiences as a university man. I feel a kind of freedom here because I have never been to a university before.”
Jin says the move to 麻豆原创 hasn鈥檛 been without its challenges. For example, the language barrier. Jin has studied English his entire life, but really focused on learning the language six months before moving here. He says limited exposure to English made the RWC lifeguard certification class difficult, but he studied hard to pass. He鈥檚 thrilled he got the job after trying out, 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy here because I鈥檓 doing what I want to do, as a University man, as a military man, I love studying. I love working as a lifeguard. I love to make new friends. I鈥檓 very happy here.鈥�
Jin calls his job his favorite part of being a Knight. Though he鈥檚 been a military man for years he loves being a student here, 鈥溌槎乖� is a growing university. It is one of the biggest universities because of the students (enrollment). So there is a bunch of opportunity to experience everything, so I can experience many sports clubs, study clubs, martial arts (clubs). Everything! I don鈥檛 have a lot of time, but there are great chances to experience so much. I love this.鈥�