My Journey
🌱 From Setbacks to Growth
The First Challenge (2019)
In 2019, I attempted to transition from a liberal arts background to an IT Master’s program in New Zealand. With enthusiasm and determination, I enrolled in statistics courses alongside my IT studies. However, I faced significant challenges—failing two statistics courses left me deeply discouraged.
When COVID-19 emerged shortly after, I made the difficult decision not to return to campus. Despite studying hard and genuinely enjoying the material, the results were disappointing. I felt like I had let myself down.
The Turning Point (2024)
In 2024, I discovered an opportunity to apply to Korea National Open University’s overseas admission program. This felt like a second chance—a way to overcome my past experience and prove to myself that I could succeed.
This time, I approached my studies differently:
- Self-paced learning: Online courses allowed me to learn at my own speed
- Flexible schedule: I could replay lectures until concepts clicked
- Better alignment: The learning environment matched my learning style
The results spoke for themselves: perfect 4.5/4.5 GPA across all courses.
What I Learned
About Learning Styles: The traditional classroom setting, where I had to keep up with real-time lectures regardless of comprehension, wasn’t ideal for me. Online learning gave me the flexibility to:
- Pause and review complex concepts
- Progress faster through familiar material
- Maintain consistent self-discipline without physical supervision
This realization led me to pursue Georgia Tech’s OMSCS—another high-quality online program that matches my learning style.
About Resilience: Failure isn’t final. My 2019 experience taught me that setbacks can be valuable learning opportunities. The key is understanding what went wrong and adapting your approach.
About Self-Management: Studying independently requires strong self-discipline. Over two years at KNOU, I’ve proven to myself that I can maintain academic rigor even without the structure of a physical classroom.
🤝 Collaboration & Leadership
Team Project Experience (2019)
During my postgraduate certificate program, I participated in a team project to build a web blogging system. This experience taught me valuable lessons about collaboration:
Project Management:
- Applied Agile methodology
- Defined clear roles for each team member
- Used Trello for continuous progress tracking
- Held regular meetings for coordination
Key Lessons:
- Transparency: Share problems with the team rather than hiding them
- Flexibility: Accept technical feedback and adapt
- Completion: Seeing a project through to the end, despite challenges
While I don’t have formal work experience, this project demonstrated that I can:
- Work effectively in a team environment
- Communicate technical challenges clearly
- Contribute to a shared goal
🎯 Why OMSCS?
My journey has led me to OMSCS for several reasons:
- Learning Style Match: Online format allows me to learn effectively
- Depth & Application: Team projects and paper reviews will help me deepen and apply theoretical knowledge
- Proven Track Record: My KNOU experience shows I thrive in online environments
- Clear Goals: I want to specialize in algorithms, systems, and data-intensive computing
Over the past two years, I’ve built a strong CS foundation. Now I’m ready to go deeper, work on real projects, and collaborate with a diverse cohort of students from around the world.
This journey has taught me that success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning from it and coming back stronger.