By Sohyun Lim, South Korea. Trinity International Foundation Programme.
I came to Ireland to learn English and experience life in another country. I chose a European country as I have always been interested in European culture and history. Of course, the UK was another possibility, but I chose Ireland as I could see more practical advantages that Ireland has. Also, Ireland is a country with friendly people who enjoy having a good chat!
Before I moved to Ireland, I was both excited and a little nervous. I wanted to challenge myself but I was worried about the difficulty of learning English surrounded by English-speakers. But I didn’t need to worry as the warm welcome I received from the people at Trinity made me feel right at home.
Eventually, I wanted to move on from learning English into academic study. Whenever I passed the Trinity campus, I dreamed of studying there. I knew about its fantastic reputation and I had met some friends from Trinity who inspired me. A public lecture I attended in Trinity organised by the Korean society gave me more hopes.
Eventually, I decided to apply for a degree in Business, Economics and Social Science. However, students who study the high school curriculum in South Korea are generally not able to enter Trinity directly.
I learned from the Global Relations Office that I could apply for the Foundation programme. So another reason I joined this programme is that it would help my English skills for university study.
Studying at Trinity through the International Foundation Programme was an incredibly rewarding experience. Trinity’s beautiful campus and diverse student community really helped me settle in quickly and provided an inspiring learning environment.
I found the programme challenging yet incredibly rewarding as it expanded my knowledge and outlook greatly. Additionally, living in Dublin city provided me with a unique opportunity of experiencing the city’s rich cultural history and the lively social culture.
During our first week in Marino Institute of Education, we were invited to a series of events in Trinity. We met Professor Hussey in the Global Room and had a tour of the campus including the Book of Kells and the fabulous Old Library. We also got an opportunity to attend the Fresher’s week which was full of vibrant energy.
To successfully get into Trinity, there is a lot of work and many things to learn. Although sometimes they are quite challenging, the reward is completely worth it, and I’m sure that every other student feels the same as me.
To learn more about the Trinity International Foundation Programme, visit the website or download the full brochure.
