Spotlight on Heather Meyer—UAC Master's Student

Hello! My name is Heather Meyer! I am originally from Yucca Valley, California, but now I live in Seoul, Korea. I was an undergraduate communication major at the UAC, and I recently became a part of the first cohort of the Master's of Communication graduate program at the UAC! I first found out about the UAC in 2016 when I attended KCON in Los Angeles. I had just started my first semester at a local community college in California when I decided it would be awesome to study abroad in a different country. So, when I found the booth at KCON it seemed like fate, and the perfect opportunity to study abroad. I didn't have any hesitation and submitted my application immediately. In less than six months I was accepted and started my journey at the UAC in Spring of 2017. UAC was a super small community when I first entered. My entering class was around 60 students, which was the biggest at the time! There were not many foreign students at the time, and I was the first foreign student to start my program at the UAC. Previous foreign students had already lived in Utah or had previous classes at the University of Utah Main Campus. The campus was very small, and classes were small, but that is what made UAC so unique. We could, and still can, get to know our professors and really be involved in classes. 

 

The biggest change I have seen throughout the UAC from when I was an undergraduate, to now being a graduate, is the growth of the campus. Now on the UAC campus, there are multiple opportunities and experiences available to the students. We only used up until the fifth floor previously, and now the whole building is being used! It's awesome to see how the original majors have evolved, and the growth of the new majors as well! Also, now that there are a large number of students from many countries, it's awesome that students can be friends and study with people from different backgrounds from all over the world!

 

The best part of moving to a new country is the culture, and being able to learn from people from all over the world. It can change your perspective in many ways, and truly make you a global citizen. I moved to Korea when I was just 18, so I had to learn how to live on my own and become independent very fast, as my support system was on the other side of the globe. I didn't do this just by myself though! UAC became my second home, because there were so many kind professors, advisors, and students that I knew I could trust, and supported me through all of my difficulties or stresses. For me the UAC community felt like my family away from home. I would have never met the people I met, and built strong relationships and bonds, if I wasn't forced to step out of my comfort zone by moving to another country!

 

The advice I would give students who are looking to study abroad is—to just do it! There can be hesitation due to being in an unfamiliar place, and worries about not being with your friends and family, but you will build those relationships again with people throughout the UAC community! You will have an awesome support system here in Korea. UAC wants to help you succeed in any way they can. You will never know how awesome studying abroad can be if you don't try it. You will become a more well rounded individual, and be amazed with all the amazing opportunities you can pursue while building lifelong relationships. Separate from your schoolwork, don't be afraid to explore Korea, and get outside. Don't spend your free days locked up inside your dorm! You are in a new country, explore it and seize the opportunity as much as you can!

 

Also, once you get to UAC, be as involved as possible! Join as many clubs as you can, and be a leader. Jump out of your comfort zone, and be the best you can be! You only have four years, or only two, to push yourself, and see what you can do. You don't want to graduate not having explored as many things as you could. As an undergraduate I had many roles such as resident advisor, orientation leader, student buddy, UPC, and many more. I worked closely with advisors and professors to execute programs and events, and gained a lot of experience that I could transfer to real-world jobs once I graduated. I was a busy student, but that is your job when you are in university, so keep yourself busy!

 

If you have any questions, or would like to talk to me about my experiences, you can contact me by my utah email u1121801@utah.edu.