March Graduates Interview

In the spring, when the cold has not yet eased, the Seoul National University 77th spring commencement ceremony was held on February 24, 2023, at the Gwanak Campus Gymnasium. The graduation ceremony was held face-to-face for the first time in four years as the spring degree ceremony, and a total of 4,637 students conferred degrees, including 2,154 undergraduates, 1,708 masters, and 775 doctors. Go Jeong-hwan, head of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, who took the lead in developing the Nuri, gave a congratulatory speech and gave encouragement to the graduates who were about to start anew. In his congratulatory speech, Dr. Go emphasized respect and trust toward people, saying, "I hope you never forget that people are the most important factor in everything." He then said, “For you, the coming days are much more and more important,” and asked not to be buried endlessly in regrets. We met alumnus Kang Min Jeong, who graduated from the Department of Plant Science in Crop Science and Biotechnology this year and greeted a new beginning, and listened to her thoughts on graduation. She graduated last February and is currently studying for a master's degree in the functional plant laboratory, majoring in Crop Science and Biotechnology.

- What are you currently doing?

I am pursuing a master's degree in Professor Taejin's Functional Plant Lab. There are several laboratories in the Crop Science and Biotechnology major. To classify the types of plants, they can be divided into food crops related to human life and functional crops that can generate profits. I applied for the Functional Plant Lab because I wanted to come into contact with various crops and conduct various research using bioinformatics.

- What are some of the most memorable things from your undergraduate life?

As for the memory of the lecture, I remember the 'philosophical understanding of science' during the liberal arts lecture. The first time I listened to the lecture, the content was difficult and I did not understand it at all. I felt even more despair since it was the first lecture I had heard after entering the school. I felt that college lectures, unlike high school, require students to learn on their own. Later, when I re-took the lecture and studied it again, I felt a big difference in understanding and studying the same contents. Then I felt proud of myself when I thought, “I finally finished the first lecture.”
Also, while I was in college, a word from a senior had a great influence on me. He was a senior who was busy doing various activities. One day I asked him if he would get tired of living like that, and he answered that he wanted to leave a mark while at Seoul National University. After hearing it, I thought it was very right, so I started to try various activities. I participated as an undergraduate research student in my 2nd and 3rd years. I also joined the CALS Press in my 3rd year and had a variety of experiences joining various clubs and volunteer activities.

- How did you feel after graduating?

I feel very different about school when I was an undergraduate student and when I am a master's graduate student. The first change is the difference in routine. When I was an undergraduate, I was free after class, but for a master's student, I have to go to work and leave, and take classes in between. Second, there is a difference in attitude toward research. When I was an undergraduate research student, I felt like I was experiencing research, but now I feel that research is my duty.
However, I don't feel like I've graduated, perhaps because I'm still in school. And I feel like I'm on an extension of the time when I was writing my graduation thesis. Research is continuous, and there are many new things to start. I realize that graduation is a beginning rather than an end.

- What are your plans or goals?

First of all, I want to plan better for the future. I know that 2 years is a shorter time than I thought, so I want to find a direction for what to do during the 2 years.

- Is there anything you would like to say to the students of the College of Agriculture and Life Science?

4 years may seem long, or it may seem short, but there aren't many students who work hard. Rather than focusing on just one activity, such as official activities, clubs, and majors, I want you to try various activities. As these experiences accumulate, one day you may look back and say, “I think I did a really good job in the past!”