Now that I’m in my third year at LSE, my acquaintances often ask me how I feel about my decision to study here. I simply answer: “it’s been a miraculous experience.” Here’s why.

Academic: a dream come true

Since 2017 (when I was in Year 8), I aspired to become part of the LSE community. I was so determined to study International Relations because I wanted to explore why war (which seemed to exist only in history textbooks) persists in the 21st century. I ended up applying for BSc International Relations and History instead, as I became a history nerd during my last two years of high school. I still remember the day I received an offer from LSE – that was the moment I’d been envisioning for years and it was no longer a dream – it was a reality.

Fast forward to today, I now know how tough it is to successfully finish my studies at LSE. Yes, the academic workload is quite high, and I’m used to doing further readings and writing essays on repeat. Yet, I have never regretted choosing this programme at LSE. I would make the same decision again even if I could go back to when I was applying for university. I love the modules I picked, the depth of knowledge and insight I’ve gained, and my dear friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I enjoy both of my disciplines so much that I now aspire to become a diplomat – a career path where both academic backgrounds could come in handy.

Personal: pioneering my life path

Studying at LSE is not just about studying. As an international student, this is also about living in a city alone for the first time in my life, away from my home and family. And yet, absolutely no one (including myself) believed that I would be able to live alone. This is where the blog gets more personal – I’m a wheelchair user. I’ve had support from my family in carrying out daily activities throughout my life, so moving and living in London alone was something that seemed impossible. 

However, I devoted myself to rehabilitation over my gap year so that I could be physically ready to live unassisted. I landed at Heathrow alone to start day one of my life in the UK. Yup, it was a big commitment and seemed like a real life “Mission Impossible” at the time. But I made it through, and I became far more independent than I expected. Now that I aspire to become a diplomat, I wonder if my disability might affect my prospects of being selected, as diplomats often work in countries with less accessible infrastructures. Nevertheless, the very fact that I’ve studied at LSE and lived independently for three years always gives me courage. 

Social: upgrading my boundaries and possibilities to an international level

In my cohort, I’m the only Korean. I’m naturally exposed to a setting where I communicate in English all the time, not only in my classes, but also in the LSESU societies that I’m part of. As I meet friends from all around the world, I’m constantly embracing the value of diversity. My friends and I encounter cultural differences, but we are equally used to respecting one another’s backgrounds.

LSE has been such a positive experience, as well as a significant factor in contributing to my decision to become a diplomat – a career where I can meet with people from around the world on many different matters.