Back to Student StoriesA Global Wildcat Perspective, Part II
Are you interested in taking your academics beyond the classroom and studying abroad? The University of Arizona is the right place to start your academic journey.
The University of Arizona earned the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, for extensive global engagement and cultural exchange initiatives. But what does this mean for students like you?
Well for one thing, it means if you’re interested in enhancing your degree path and career opportunities with global learning experiences, the U of A offers more than 100 study abroad Global Tracks that align specific study abroad courses with your major or minor requirements. That means you can expand your perspective and global awareness while staying on track to graduation.
Cymone, a 2025 Arizona honors graduate with dual degrees in Film and Television and East Asian Studies, shared her study abroad story with us.
In the summer of 2023, Cymone, originally from Washington and studying film here in Arizona, flew across the world to study at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. There she took two classes – Korean Modern History and Pop Culture, and Korean Cinema – Monday through Thursday. On Thursdays and Fridays, she took Subway Line 2 to Hongdae and interned on a film set with a University of Arizona alumnus who had started his own production company there.
“What a whirlwind these experiences were,” said Cymone. “Not only was I able to participate in Korean academic culture and take a deep dive into the country’s culture, but I also had the opportunity to work at Ground Zero in the film industry – my long-standing dream.”
This study abroad experience expanded her academic path and influenced her career after graduation.
“Studying abroad in Korea was the reason I declared my second major in East Asian Studies, learned Korean, completed my thesis documentary in Korean cultural studies, and ultimately decided to live in Seoul,” she said.
“I now work for a marketing company here and also edit YouTube videos as a freelancer. I am a photographer, a videographer, and a creator – and I believe much of this was made possible by the U of A Study Abroad program.”
But how did Cymone work with the U of A to make this pivotal study abroad program happen? She told us how her Arizona experience evolved during her time here.
“Growing up, I always had a knack for photography and an interest in film,” Cymone explained. “When I was applying to college, for various reasons, the University of Arizona became my clear top choice. At that time, the film program for the U of A was in the top 25 film schools in the nation. I knew immediately that I would be receiving a good education.”
Now our film school is one of the top 3 film schools in the nation. Yet while Film & Television was Cymone’s first major and she declared various minors, she said it was not until she knew she would study abroad that she declared East Asian Studies with an emphasis in Korean as a second major.
“I took a class, KOR 245 Pop Culture, with the wonderful Dr. Sunyoung Yang, and that changed my track forever,” she said.
“As an honors student, I took on Honors Contracts to receive credit, and worked closely with her throughout the spring of my first year. She saw something in me, and strongly encouraged me to pursue more than just film. Because of her, I took Korean classes. I fell in love. I studied abroad.”
To work around her busy academic schedule and her job as an editor, Cymone chose to study abroad over the summer, and with Dr. Yang’s help, she said, she applied to two potential study abroad programs.
“One of them was with the University of Arizona and Hanyang University, and the other was an external program. I chose the U of A not only because the program sounded incredible, but also because I trusted the program run through my university more than anything.”
The guidance and mentorship of faculty and alumni helped Cymone throughout her study abroad and academic journey. Along with Dr. Yang, Professor Jieun Ryu, Professor Sojung Chun, Professor Sandra Park, and alumna Hyeonah Kang helped her align her study abroad courses with her major requirements at the U of A.
“Hyeonah Kang was one of my teachers in the early stages of learning Korean, and has developed into a mentor and friend,” Cymone said.
Dr. Park served as Cymone's thesis advisor and guided her in creating a documentary film based on her work in Korean studies.
In the spirit of that guidance and support, we asked Cymone what advice or tips she would give to a student about to embark on a study abroad program.
“If you want something enough, you have to go for it, and I promise it will change your life forever. I live in Korea now, due largely to my studying abroad. If I had not taken that leap of faith, I cannot imagine where my path in life would be headed. Small ripples make waves, splashes change lives.”
Are you ready to make a change, find support along the way, and create a future beyond what you imagined? The first step is to apply to Arizona.
And if you’re interested in learning more about studying abroad with the U of A, start here: