In this blog post, I’ll share what inspired me to pursue a career as a convention planner, as well as my academic and career plans.
Reasons for Pursuing This Field
Growing up, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with friends from various countries thanks to my father, who is a diplomat. Even now that I’m back in Korea, I continue to build international friendships by exchanging ideas with my foreign friends via email. I discovered the joy of building relationships with people by introducing Korean movies and plays to foreign friends I met for the first time and recommending travel destinations to them. As I formed deep bonds with my foreign friends through Korean culture, I began to think that it would be wonderful to pursue this career. Then, I read an article in a newspaper about convention planners. Believing that the prospects for international conference planners would be bright as globalization progressed, I decided on my career path early on in high school. The anticipation of experiencing diverse cultures and meeting VIPs was another factor that influenced my career choice. I also felt that convention planning is one of the few fascinating professions that allows you to transform a vision in your mind into a spectacular reality. I hope to find professional fulfillment by working in convention management, where I can attend to even the smallest details to ensure participants from around the world have a convenient, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
Academic Plan and Goals
First, upon enrolling in the Convention Management program, since I lack foundational knowledge of international conferences, I will pursue various courses to gain a basic understanding of them and acquire practical skills. Since convention planners must possess foreign language proficiency sufficient for simultaneous interpretation, I will work to become fluent in English. In addition, I will prepare to acquire computer skills so that I can effectively present conference content. I will practice developing international etiquette by making friends from other countries. Furthermore, since focusing too narrowly on one field can lead to narrow-mindedness and a loss of perspective, I will meet people from diverse backgrounds to broaden my horizons. During my undergraduate studies, I will prepare step-by-step for the Convention Planner certification by attending relevant educational institutions and studying for the exam.
Plans After Graduation
After graduation, I plan to complete a business school program in Canada and obtain the Convention Planner certification recognized by the Canadian CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) Association. I will then return to Korea to gain practical experience through internships or hands-on training at convention-related companies. It is true that this field is not yet well-known in Korea. As a future convention planner, I want to raise awareness of this field and develop my skills as a planner so that I can confidently present my business card. Since every aspect of a convention is built from scratch, I will work passionately, leveraging the unique advantage of this profession—creating something from nothing. I will cultivate my foreign language skills, planning abilities, presentation skills, and multitasking capabilities to grow into a leader and key player in the convention industry.
Self-Introduction
Following my motto, “Always run without hesitation!” I continue to take on new challenges. Ever since my teenage years in middle school, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering questions like “What am I living for?” and “What do I want to do with my life?” Whenever these doubts arose, I would walk around Boramae Park near my home, using my thoughts to overcome my slumps. Eventually, I concluded that I would only understand my future by gaining a wide range of experiences, so I threw myself into school activities. In particular, my involvement with the school newspaper taught me a great deal and allowed me to gain diverse experiences beyond the school setting. The best part was meeting new people, which broadened my perspective on the world and helped me develop the ability to think from multiple angles. While I was contemplating my career path, the consultations I had with various people were a great help. By receiving advice from those with more experience than me, I was able to gradually fill in the gaps in my own knowledge and skills. Moving forward, I pledge to devote my unwavering effort and passion to whatever I can do, with the continued support of the many mentors in society.
