Please introduce yourself (background, interests, your MBTI, and so on)
Some technical details about me: I am Kenneth Vergara, Filipino, BA History, currently a master’s student majoring in International Relations & minoring in Korea and East Asia studies as a Global Korea Scholarship recipient (GKS-Graduate). Other than this, I am someone who is invested in a STORY—stories in the films I watch, diplomatic histories I read, or the video games I play. Yes, I am Filipino and it is true that 90% of Filipinos are world-class singers. Unfortunately, I belong to the other 10% who don’t. The voice I am blessed with is not for singing, but literally and figuratively, in storytelling. My MBTI is INFJ. Most people mistake me for an extrovert because of this strange talent that I developed from storytelling and ability to pull up a conversation. But social skills are not only what being an introvert is about. It is also the quiet environment or laidback energy that I prefer and am more at home with. Some quick points below are my hobbies and interests:
Some PS Video games: God of War, Arkham Trilogy, & Fallen Order.
Fave Movies: Harry Potter, LOTR, Crazy Rich Asians, & the Devil Wears Prada.
Series I can rewatch: The Crown, Big Bang Theory, Love Victor, & Our Beloved Summer.
Recent top artists: Enhypen, Troye Sivan, Coldplay, BTS, & Lauv.
Top music genres: Pop, Broadway, K-Pop, Movie Tunes, & OPM.
Though my cool parents curiously named me after a Filipino basketball player, compared to my two big brothers who play well, I am more like my big sister whose interest in basketball and sport is limited to watching from the bleachers. One thing I am trying to challenge myself with lately is learning racquetball just for fun and for my own physical, mental, and social well-being.
2. Can you tell us the reason why you chose to study at SOGANG GSIS?
How I ended up in Seoul and at Sogang GSIS is a long story, so let me narrow it down to just two: First, Sogang GSIS is in the cultural center of Seoul, but also a hub for a multinational student body. Not only am I immersed in the Korean social way of thinking, but also in cultural mindsets far away from my own, like the South American, African, or Muslim community, and so on. Second, if you know Sogang well, you will see the Jesuit trademark of learning not only being inward but a step forward to be other-centered. Fortunately, it all turned out well. In all my classes, I am always challenged to think hard outside myself. This resonates with how I want my story to be coming to Seoul: make friendly connections, deepen my understanding of history and international relations, and in my own way, be a diplomat bridging global indifferences.
3. How do you usually spend your spare time in Korea?
My best friend once told me before, “You will never get bored in this country.” Back in the Philippines, I would usually spend my spare time chilling with my friends, hanging out in cafes, karaoke rooms, or watching films. I pretty much do the same, but here in Korea, there is always something fun to do with my friends or by myself that can make it more interesting, some of which are free or with better reach! So, for example, going to a cafe but hanok-themed, a noraebang where people can watch you from outside, a free drone or firework show, hiking, or having fun in an archery cafe. All these things I can do in Seoul make the story I am writing here more interesting!
4. Can you recommend your favorite place/spot in Seoul?
Cliché as it may, my most favorite places in Seoul are Han River and Namsan. The river's calmness, surrounding city noise, the changing seasons and skies, and all the people hanging around are both blue and comforting. The Han River seems ordinary. But these pieces converging into this river make its simplicity attractively amusing, calming the bustling noise of my student life. In the same way, Namsan is also a favorite as it gives me a better view of Han River, the Seoul city lights, and just an interesting pause from the noises below. Then again, Namsan is also not really quiet per se because of the tourists traveling up the mountain to seal their love locks. Seoul is such a busy and fast-paced city, and being at Han River or Namsan just allows me to pause and slow things down.
5. Any recommendations or know-how on life in Korea?
As my seniors have stressed many times before, learning Korean is a must. I do not consider myself fluent but know well enough to survive in my daily routine, from very minor contexts up to serious social situations. What I found is that as you learn another language like Korean, you will have a better grasp of their social and cultural life, but also in the process, an opportunity to better discover many things about your own character that you have not thought of before. Finding your community is also an important know-how in Korea. I once had a conversation with one of our dormitory security officers, and he told me that people everywhere, no matter their nationality, are not so different. This is why finding a community is important because it will help you find a common ground with other people, maintain your own identity while also allowing your story to be immersed in such an interesting society like Korea. It can be a gym or sports group, language group, university club, or in my case, my Catholic church community. 6. Can you share your most memorable experience at SOGANG GSIS with us? It’s not every day that you get to meet people of diverse nationalities, some thinking too differently from you, some speaking similarly, and most of whom are in the middle of both. In my case, I get to experience this every day, which makes my story in Sogang GSIS particularly memorable every time. I get to listen and talk to people from all walks of life carrying different histories in my classes through our class discussions, but also through the other spaces Sogang has for us to get to know each other better or build friendly relationships that can exceed language, cultural, or even political differences, like bowling nights or final party organized by the GSIS student council or our major dinner parties and university festivals. 7. Do you have any advice for the prospective students at SOGANG GSIS? My advice is less technical and more on mindset. Never let your story be defined by excellence alone once you become a student of Sogang GSIS. There are many things that can build our character as students like responsibility, punctuality, and humility, but also thoughtfulness or awareness. Add more value to the academic community by striving for excellence but also by being nice to other people. If you put in your 100% effort in studying, you can earn a higher GPA or better career opportunities. And if you strive every day to smile and be thoughtful to others, then you can create this care-oriented ripple effect that can open more opportunities for the world to be kinder. Especially now, the state of global affairs can be frustrating as an international studies scholar. Even if ChatGPT can generate smart-looking essays for us, only our own G.P.T. (grateful, purposeful, thoughtful) attitude towards others can make our essays meaningful. My point is, our grades should not be an empty can, and we should not miss this as an academic. Make passion and compassion the brand of your story. This, for me, is a test of scholarship that prospective Sogang GSIS students should know. 8. Do you have anything to say to SOGANG GSIS? As I journey ahead and continue writing my story, I am 100% sure since day 1 that the person I will come out to be is the sum of every story I will be part of from all the people I will meet here in Sogang GSIS. I am not always my 100% best, so for each one—all my professors who put effort every class to make sure that we will leave the halls of GSIS more competent and committed; all my fellow students, sunbaenims, hoobaes, and fellow teaching assistants who I learned from in many ways, in our craft and outlook on life; and to all the other people who I was able to meet along the way through Sogang University—I will always carry a part of your stories in the one I am writing now. I will always be grateful, humbled, and proud that I was chosen and given a chance to be a part of Sogang GSIS!
