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On June 11, 2022, the Korean ambassador’s residence in Iran hosted a remarkable gathering. Individuals who had pursued their dreams with unwavering determination came together to celebrate their achievements.
Among the attendees were recipients of the prestigious GKS scholarship, which provides opportunities for studying in Korea. The event featured fruitful discussions between successful candidates, embassy officials, and the ambassador. Yun Kang-Hyeon emphasized the scholars’ role in strengthening Iran-Korea relations.
As the meeting concluded, a memorable photo captured the essence of this transformative experience. Maryam Pourmand, a first-time GKS-UIC candidate, shared how the scholarship had changed her life.
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1. Maryam, could you talk about yourself and introduce yourself to people who may not know you?
Ever since I was a child; I have enjoyed dabbling with different devices and machines and experimenting with different applications to figure out how and why they are working. My mother is a nurse, so since childhood, I have been interested in health care as well. Thus, I became attracted to Medical IT Engineering which is a combination of engineering and health sciences. This interest led me to experiment working volunteering in a charity for children with thalassemia and then taking internships in a hospital.
Also, I am interested in learning different languages and cultures. Thus, I am learning Korean, German, and Dutch while working as an English and Persian teacher. Then, I found an interest in Korea 2 years ago when I was 18, and my journey started.
2. What sparked your interest in studying in Korea? Why did you choose this country? Has it been your dream to study there since childhood?”
I think I should thank my younger sister. Honestly, during high school, while most of my friends were interested in Korea, I was not. After graduating from high school, it was my younger sister who changed my mind. She introduced me to their language, culture, and also K-pop and K-drama. I guess, now if my high school friends understand my interest in Korea and studying there, they will be surprised. While most of the time it is the older sibling who influences the younger sibling, my situation was vice versa.
The field of study that I am interested in is biomedical engineering and Korea is a well-developed country in this field. Many medical devices that are in our country are imported from Korea. For me, studying in Korea is a great opportunity to study in a high-education system country while I will understand Korean culture and language.
3. How much effort did you put into achieving this dream? Were there specific actions you took during this time?
For the three last few years, every day was like waking up and dreaming about studying in Korea. Each day for me was like a step to get closer to my dream. I went through a lot of struggles. But those problems were nothing compared to my dream. It was not easy to study while working and preparing for GKS, but whenever I thought about what it would be like when I was selected as a GKS scholar, made me try harder. I set many challenges for myself. At first, those challenges seemed impossible, but during these years I learned efforts will never be in vain.
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4. How did you become familiar with the GKS scholarship, and what motivated you to apply for it? Was this the first time the scholarship was offered?
So I think most students, who have a dream to study in Korea, have heard about this fully funded scholarship at least once. I first heard about GKS from one of the Iranian GKS 2015 scholars. Before GKS-UIC, My first attempt to study in Korea was in September 2022. I applied for GKS-U but unfortunately, I was not selected even for the first round. I was preparing for GKS 2023 while searching for other scholarships in Korea when all of a sudden NIIED announced about new scholarship for undergraduate students which is GKS-UIC. My parents were my motivators to apply for the scholarship. Meanwhile, being accepted in Sejong Isfahan made me more confident. I was not sure if I could prepare my documents before the deadline however, on the other hand, I did not want to lose any chance of studying in Korea. I shouldn't forget that, some of my friends were helpful to me. So I tried my best for that opportunity.
5. Which university were you accepted into, and what influenced your decision to choose that particular university?
The university is Soonchunhyang University (순천향대학교) in Asan city. My main reason for choosing this university was the major I wanted to study which is Medical IT engineering. The university is famous for both medical-related majors and engineering majors while my major is a combination of both branches. Since high school, I knew that I wanted to study a challenging major. I always wanted to develop something that benefits others and improves the quality of life of those with serious medical conditions. Also, when I was applying, I found the university staff very kind and compassionate with international students.
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6. As a closing message, what advice do you have for those aspiring to succeed in this scholarship?
Sometimes you try hard, but it's not about the right time. Just believe that if something is for you then it will be yours. Your goal for now might be GKS. To be successful in this competition, you need to arrange short-term goals and after each achievement, you will feel how close you are to GKS. Just whatever happens never give up and enjoy your path to success. I sometimes faced failures, but thanks to such failures in my life I have become stronger, ambitious, and confident in myself. Just never get disappointed.
Maryam Pourmand's experience at the GKS scholarship event showcased determination and fruitful discussions. As a first-time GKS-UIC candidate, she emphasized the scholarship's role in strengthening Iran-Korea relations.
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