Study Abroad: Yasmin Plascencia

 

Heyooo! My name is Yasmin Plascencia, and I am a senior in the Audio Production program here at WSU's School of Digital Arts! This past summer of 2025, I got the amazing opportunity to study abroad in one of my dream destinations: South Korea! But how did little Yasmin get all the way across the globe? Long story short, it would be on a plane, yes, but let me tell you guys the long version. 

 

Since the day I applied to university, I knew I wanted to study abroad. Several people from WSU had gone to my high school and had talked about all the possibilities and opportunities that it could bring. Once they planted that little seed, it was no longer a question of if but when. It definitely took a lot of planning and work. During my freshman year, I attended informational meetings on the main campus and then met one-on-one with one of the sweetest people who would help me out with my study abroad journey: WSU's Associate Director of Study Abroad & Exchange Programs, Ann Burger.

 

We looked at the list of programs and countries that best fit the time I wanted to study abroad, what I looked for to be offered in a program, and she helped me tackle any concerns I had. I decided I wanted to study abroad either in the summer after my second or third year in college. Among the top contenders was Italy and one more country that is definitely not a spoiler for where I ended up traveling for study abroad.

 

I have always had a huge appreciation for music from different countries and in different languages. In high school, I dove into the amazing world of Korean rock, hip-hop, R&B, and K-Pop, discovering some of my favorite bands and artists such as DAY6, Thornapple, ph-1, Gwangil Jo, DEAN, and Stray Kids, just to name a few. It so happened that from the programs being offered during the summer, the other top contender was, drum roll please, South Korea! It was just meant to be, guys; it was meant to be! Fast forward to October of 2024, I began the application process to study abroad through Dankook University for the summer of 2025. There was a lot of paperwork involved and A LOT of emails. 

 

 

And so, on June 17th, Yasmin set foot on her first overseas flight to South Korea! From June 17th to August 1st, I was in South Korea teaching Spanish to a small group of college students for the first two weeks and for the remainder taking a Korean Contemporary Culture and Society course as well as a Korean for Beginners language course. Words truly cannot even begin to describe how impactful studying abroad was. I met some of the most amazing and kind-hearted individuals while in Korea, both from there and from other parts of the world. Some of the most memorable and precious memories I will hold will be the mornings and afternoons with my Korean students and hanging out in the city with them. They always treated us very sweetly and had a strong and admirable grit to learn a new language. They cared for us and showed us more about their culture.

 

An insight into other people's cultures is always an insight into a new way of seeing and appreciating the world. Nights spent with my dorm mates will always be unforgettable! I will never forget getting lost in the train station for two hours and laughing the entire time with friends as we tried to navigate a map in a language we were still learning. I will never forget all the good food, the city lights from Namsan Tower, the beautiful skies and sunsets from Busan and its beaches, the friendly cats in the neighborhood near the GS-25 and CU by the dorm, the loud and happy nights in the karaoke room with friends, the concerts and festivals seeing some of the same artists that got me into Korean music, the lovely record stores, and beautiful walks along the Cheonan and Jukjeon DKU campuses. Most importantly, I will never forget the amazing people I got to experience all of this with! 

 

 

I was able to learn so much about South Korea while I was there, but I also learned a lot about myself. Being in a foreign country forces you out of your comfort zone and encourages you to think differently about the world and yourself. Coming back, I felt a greater sense of purpose and confidence that I could bring back and put into practice in my work, school, involvement in campus organizations, and in my personal life. I would absolutely recommend studying abroad to anyone. Anytime I was faced with a concern, the staff at Study Abroad here at WSU were always quick to help me work things out and find solutions. One of my biggest concerns was definitely financing my trip, as it can be expensive, but they were able to point me toward scholarships that I could apply for to help cover expenses. I would advise anyone interested in studying abroad to always reach out for help if you aren't sure what steps to take next. There is always a way to make what we wish and dream of come true!