Go OO, a graduate    ● Entered the Department of Science Studies at Jeonbuk National University in 2013 and graduated in 2022    ● Currently working at HanO Pharmaceutical Company   "When I was a lower-grade student, I was caught up in wondering  how our department’s classes would help with employment.  But what I have realized is that I feel like I can do anything.  In fact, after entering society, I believe our department,  although part of the College of Natural Sciences and a STEM field, actually nurtures rare talents  who possess strong humanities literacy."

0. Please briefly introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Go OO. I enrolled in 2013 and graduated in 2022. After graduation, I joined GwangO Pharmaceutical, and currently, I work at HanO Pharmaceutical Company.

 

1. Do you have any memorable department activities?

I remember participating in the student council during my freshman year. I greatly enjoyed the sense of freedom and liberation that comes at twenty, as well as the feeling of belonging to an organization. It gave me the sense that I was starting to live a bit of a social life and that I was becoming an adult. Although I didn’t participate in the student council for long, I think those days captured the youthful enthusiasm and spirit of new college students, making it a fond memory.

 

2. Any memorable department classes?

Digital Media Philosophy was a memorable class for me because it was the first non-face-to-face class during COVID-19, and yet I found myself more focused than in face-to-face classes. It made me think deeply about media itself.

Science Studies Project was different from many other courses I had taken, including general and other departments’ courses. It was engaging and fun, so it stands out in my memory. Most major courses in our department aren’t one-sided lectures, so they are generally interesting, but since this was a recent course, it is especially memorable.

 

3. How has department life influenced your life and career?

Many students in our department probably had a science background in high school. Our courses involve a lot of humanities elements, and personally, I think these provide an advantage in society. The process of discussing topics, engaging in deep reflection, and practicing writing is something not commonly experienced in other STEM or natural science majors. Our department provides many opportunities to learn, debate, and think deeply about diverse topics. While juniors may have many concerns about their career and future, I think actively participating in department life and classes will naturally lead to their place in society. (Fighting!)

 

4. Why did you choose your current (or prior) career? Could you share your career decision-making process and personal criteria?

I took a break from university and studied abroad in Shanghai for two and a half years. During that time, I did various activities and worked briefly at a pharmaceutical company by chance. After returning to Korea, I resumed university and graduated. I was also invited by a teaching assistant to participate in a university pharmaceutical program, which naturally led to my employment in this field.

 

5. What efforts have you made to progress toward your career? What advice would you give to students?

I hadn’t planned to enter the pharmaceutical sector when starting university and thus did not make consistent efforts earlier. Later, when preparing for this field, I studied industry trends and basics, obtained relevant certifications and language scores after graduation. Those with clear goals should keep preparing, but if your career choice is unclear, I recommend gaining diverse experiences and certifications early on regardless of field.

 

6. What would you like to say to juniors?

I’m curious about why juniors chose our department and what their goals are. Honestly, I didn’t have particular goals when I entered—many just come to university without a plan and gradually progress through years while naturally growing concerned about the future and employment. You may wonder what you’ll do after graduation. When I was a lower-grade student, I worried about how our classes would help with employment. But I’ve come to feel that we can do anything. Our department is part of the College of Natural Sciences and a STEM field, but I believe it nurtures rare talents who also possess humanities literacy. I often find that those in other STEM fields rarely get to experience the topics we handle, giving us more insight and creative thinking in problem solving. I think this is because we learn parts that are usually overlooked. To conclude, although job hunting is increasingly difficult, please take pride in our department. Our classes and department compare well with others at Jeonbuk National University and even have many advantages. Enjoy your university and departmental life and actively participate in classes with a positive mindset. I hope you have a regret-free and enjoyable university life. Fighting!

 

7. Finally, what is “Science Studies” to you in a word or two?

Although it was unfamiliar then and still somewhat unknown now, it seems to be a discipline that nurtures the power of thinking.