Published 9/25/2024 by Praniti Gulyani
Sitting across the table in the recreational lounge of David Blackwell Hall, Sanghun Byun begins our conversation with a humorous— yet meaningful— indication towards his unique international identity that is spread across three vastly different countries: Korea, India and the USA.
Originally from Korea, Byun has lived in India for most of his life before finally moving to the USA to pursue his undergraduate studies in Computer Science and English.
“As an international student, I’ve had the opportunity to experience Korean, Indian and American culture. For the most part, I found myself confused as I tried to choose between these three identities,” Byun says. “However, coming to a place as diverse as UC Berkeley where people think and express in so many ways made me realize that I did not have to choose. I was able to form an identity of my own that combined the best of all three cultures,” he explains.
Drawing upon the instant distinction between Korea and America that came to the surface during his first year at UC Berkeley, Byun talks about the differences in methods of self-expression.
“In America, and especially in the Bay Area, I notice that people prioritize being true to represent who they really are,” he says. “It’s liberating— and inspirational— to see how comfortable people are in their own skin. This gives rise to greater cultural awareness and an acknowledgement of present diversity,” he adds.
Describing how this acknowledgement of diversity transcends into the classroom and promotes community building within the classroom, Byun describes how Cal students seem to find a way to work with each other. “Even in academic spaces, there are many people coming in from different walks of life, and it is great to see how everyone finds a way to work with each other. This isn’t always as easy as it looks, especially because it involves overcoming many barriers that are conversational and accent-oriented,” he explains.
Examining the impact of this bilingual exposure on his academic experience, Byun emphasizes on how it led to the development of a well-rounded perspective. “As languages, Korean and English have a lot of natural differences that range across the areas of syntax, subject/verb arrangement amidst others. Different words lead to different trains of thought, and by the end of it, you have two distinct— yet equally relevant— ways of looking at the same thing,” he explains.
Moving onto his experiences with English faculty members, Byun describes how his multi-cultural coursework— and his interactions with his professors— seem to go hand-in-hand. “The diversity of faculty members at UC Berkeley has helped me feel very welcome over here. Especially in English classes, we tend to focus on marginalized voices and read a lot of work written by different people. Differences are celebrated in literary analysis and become a subject of further exploration,” he says.
Going on to talk about what he could have done differently, Byun talks about the importance of getting a good start combined with the importance of active communication with professors, advisors, clubs and peers. “Whether you’re confused about your interests, want to find the right internship, or are struggling with a personal issue, just be confident and reach out. You will be surprised at how many— and how much— people are willing to help you out,” he concludes.