KOR: 송인화 of CS
Hi everyone! My name is Inwha Song, class of 2019 and I have a profound fondness for School of Computing. Frankly, I never dreamed of joining the Department of Computer Science when I first entered KAIST. But somehow, I ended up becoming the representative of School of Computing and the President of the Undergraduate Association.
During my freshman and sophomore years, I was quite active in club activities. I was particularly involved with K-Bird, a club I enjoy, and various sports activities. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 during my second year brought about some disappointments.
To be honest, I initially thought I would go into the Department of Biochemical Engineering upon entering KAIST. The reason was simple: I loved and excelled in math, physics, and chemistry during high school, and I thought it was natural to continue in that direction. With that in mind, I attended the freshman seminar for those departments but realized that, while it's an excellent field, it wasn't quite the right fit for me. That's how I erased Biochemical Engineering as my choice, and my career path became a blank slate.
That's when I started to reflect on what kind of person I wanted to become. As someone who wanted to make a direct impact on others, I began looking for a department that could help me achieve that goal. This led me to the Department of Computer Science.
However, for me at that time, the Department of Computer Science had a high barrier to entry. As I had never been exposed to programming before, it felt like a distant field. Nevertheless, I decided to overcome this barrier to reach my goals. Besides, KAIST provides not only the chance to change departments but also various opportunities in a thankful environment, which eventually led me to enroll in the department.
However, the CS introductory courses seemed somewhat detached from the core values I imagined. I questioned whether these subjects could serve as stepping stones towards my future objectives. Therefore, I visited the Department of Computer Science's website and looked up all the labs that might be helpful to me. Focusing on "what I can do," I discovered the field of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction). At that moment, it felt like my vague, abstract goals materialized, and I realized that choosing to enter the Department of Computer Science was indeed a valuable decision.
When searching for an internship opportunity, I explored various research labs. At that time, the process involved selecting from several posted projects and applying accordingly. Admittedly, I applied somewhat hastily and, to my surprise, was accepted. This led to a year and a half of engaging in research.
While the term 'lab intern' encapsulates all research lab internships, the reality is that what's expected of an intern varies widely from lab to lab. Some labs are looking for an extra pair of hands to aid in their work, while others aim to provide authentic research opportunities. Therefore, I believe it's crucial to clearly identify what you hope to gain from the experience.
I also think that a lab internship can serve as an opportunity to determine whether research suits your interests and abilities. When deciding on a career path, research direction, or job, it's best not to have preconceived notions about unexplored areas; instead, accumulating these experiences and taking the plunge seems to be the best approach.
A second advantage of participating in a lab internship is that it offers a glimpse into the lives of graduate students. This can be incredibly useful in anticipating what your own life might be like if you decide to pursue graduate studies. This aspect, too, acts as a platform to broaden your perspective when deciding on your future path.
I believe that if you, as students, strive to observe people and environments within your chosen range and actively engage in continuous interactions, you'll be able to gain invaluable experiences from various perspectives.