About the Student Success Story Contest
Applicants of the “2022 Student Success Story Contest” are waiting for the results of their first examination. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) will announce the final results on October 5th after the interviews, which will take place on September 20th. The contestants consist of Korean and international students attending the fall semester of 2022. Students from differing cultures can share their diverse narratives by participating in the contest. The central theme of the competition is “Success Stories Accomplishing ‘Su-Gi-Chi-In’,” which can be divided into “Su-Gi,” “Chi-In,” and “Success and Failure.” “Su-Gi” refers to “determination towards accomplishing one’s own dream or goal,” and “Chi-In” means “contributing to society.” By sharing success stories about overcoming obstacles and failures, students can contribute to the development of the SKKU community. The winners will have their names recorded on the “President’s Student Recommendation List” and can participate as a co-author of the “Student Success Story Book.” The Student Recommendation List is an honor roll that advocates the student success model of SKKU. Also, the awardees can give special lectures and mentor juniors, as well as become role models for other students in overcoming adversities. Lee Chan-ju, one of the previous winners of the “2021 Student Success Story Contest,” said, “Apart from the benefits, participating in the contest was a chance to look back on my entire college life, and it reminded me of why I decided to be a judicial officer.”
Lead Your Student Success Story, SKKU!
Criteria for student success at SKKU include Global Skills, Self-Directed Learning, Entrepreneurship, Convergence, and Citizenship. More specifically, students should stay open-minded and solve complex problems innovatively by approaching them in a flexible manner. Moreover, students should get involved in social issues by embracing diversity and respecting social and cultural differences. In short, students should perform their roles as leaders, experts, and educated people. Most stories in the “Student Success Story Book” connect students’ experiences to the necessary criteria. However, participating in the contest does not always require experience from an extraordinary occurrence. Park Sung-hye, the Senior Researcher of the Student Success Center (SSC) at SKKU, said, “Most students feel burdened by the word ‘success’ and presume that success equals a miraculous experience, but what is more important is writing about how you have overcome your difficulties.” In accordance, most stories that the awardees’ focused on included stories every student can relate to, such as grades and employment. Hence, what is truly important is the process of overcoming hardships and contributing to society. To help students, the SSC operates programs such as special lectures, mentoring, and counseling. The special lectures are conducted two or three times every semester, and mentoring is executed yearly for first and second-year students. Regarding the effects of those programs, Park said, “Speakers and audiences, mentors and mentees alike can influence each other to create a virtuous cycle of education.”
