POTECH Microscope: Postechian’s Vacation
POTECH Microscope: Postechian’s Vacation
  • reporter Kim Min-gyu
  • 승인 2019.04.24 13:18
  • 댓글 0
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▲Hwang Tae-yeon (Mueunjae 18) at the interview
▲Hwang Tae-yeon (Mueunjae 18) at the interview

 

POSTECH, unlike any other universities, has a long summer vacation that includes June, July and August. The three-month vacation gives students enough time to pursue what they have been longing to do during the semester. POSTECH offers great extracurricular programs during the vacation in hopes that students will be able to spend their time more productively and meaningfully. There is the Summer Experience in Society program (SES), where students work and gain experience in companies while improving their social skills. There are advisory committees, where students can actively take part in school activities and meet new people. In various ways, POSTECH students can experience a unique and valuable vacation.   
To introduce more deeply into how POSTECH students spend their vacation, The Postech Times interviewed Hwang Tae-yeon (Mueunjae 18), who participated in the Einstein class held by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP). 

What activity did you participate in and how did it progress?
I participated in an activity called the Einstein class sponsored by KHNP. I wrote an application paper in November and did a personal interview in Seoul. Although many were accepted, some did not get the chance. 
It takes place for about three weeks. Mentors, university students who applied for the activity, like myself, gather at five places across the country, Yeonggwang, Busan, Uljin, Gyeongju and Ulsan, and sleep at a designated lodge during the program. I stayed in Yeonngwang. 
There are two types of classes. One is scheduled until noon and the other is an all-day-long class. With the project’s objective to enhance the Math and English skills of the mentees, I was asked to teach Math and English. This program, held by KHNP, is for the students who live in educationally underdeveloped areas near the power plants of the KHNP. Therefore, the camp heavily focuses on bringing up the mentees academic level. Apart from academics, there is a bonding time where mentors and mentees get to interact. My mentees and I played sports and watched English movies. Every day, after the program, I wrote reports about what I did and how the class went.

Why did you choose to do this program among other choices?
I was introduced to this program by a senior at school. Since many students also participate in this program so it is well-known. And, most importantly, they grant a scholarship to the participants. Since this program is about donating my talents to kids, I thought that it would be a meaningful experience. 

What did you learn from this program? How did the mentees benefit?
I had the chance to make good memories with my mentees. I got to know other mentors from different universities and it was really nice to meet and interact with new people through this program.
For the mentees, they were able to learn subjects such as Math and English, but, more importantly, they had the time to think and discuss with the mentors about their goals and what they want to study. I believe this program gave them a solid foundation to work and study in the future.

What are you going to do this summer vacation?
I’m planning to work on my English. I would like to apply for the undergraduate study abroad program next year so I think I will be taking a TOEFL class for that. Also, I will be participating in the baseball training-camp for this years POSTECH-KAIST Science War.