Q. convergent category of administrative exams did you take?
A. I took the exam for the environmental position in the technical fields. 

Q. How did you prepare for the exam?
A. While I’ve been interested in this path since I was a college student, I never had the chance to pursue it due to the time and cost involved in preparing for the exam. After spending time at a company where I was able to define a clearer goal for myself, I left and began preparing for it.

Q. What were your resolutions to yourself when you started studying for the exam?
A. I vowed to prepare myself to the point that I would not have any regrets. Because I had begun preparing at a relatively late age, I was able to approach the test with more determination. 

Q. What is the most memorable thing for you about preparing for the exam?
A. A week before the first exam, my grandfather passed away. Those were the most difficult times during my test prep. That experience became an opportunity for me to study with more focus. 

Q. How did you feel after passing the exam? How did the people around you react?
A. More people than I expected congratulated me sincerely. I realized that I should give more attention and love to the people most important to me.

Q. How can a current student prepare for the exam?
A. I think that it should be a priority to first meet the essential qualifications such as the Korean history and TOEIC exams during your time at school. Also, in preparing for the technical exam, it is important to pay attention in your school classes as they are often related to your field of specialization.

Q. What was your daily routine while studying?
A. I would get up at 6:30 a.m., get ready, pack my meals for lunch and dinner, get to the reading room at 7:30 a.m., and study until 11:30 p.m. when I would return home. I didn't even take breaks on weekends. I really tried hard to maintain the routine regardless of my circumstances.

Q. Do you have your own special insider tip for passing the exam?
A. Devoting myself to my goals without comparing myself to others helped me a lot. I tried to achieve the study hours I had set for the day. If I did not meet the that study goal, I studied additional hours at home to achieve those hours before I went to sleep. At the same time, I tried hard not to stress myself out by comparing myself to those around me.

Q. How did you manage your health and stress?
A. While studying for my first exam, I exercised for about an hour daily. While studying for my second one, I just didn’t have the time. With three months left before the exam, I started taking Pilates classes because I was not feeling well.

I tried to manage my stress in ways that did not consume much time. Sweet food always makes me feel better, so going to different cafes near the reading room was a way to relieve stress.

Our bodies take a very long time to recover from extreme stress. I hope students pay attention to their health as they start preparing for the exam. 

Q. What kind of civil servant do you want to become in the future?
A. I want to become a civil servant who helps make the world a better place to live in. I want to consistently contribute to environmental problems as they are not only a domestic, but also a global issue.

Q. Lastly, would you like to say a word to the juniors at SeoulTech?
A. It took a lot of courage to start preparing for this exam. I am certain that each SeoulTech student has a dream in their heart. No matter what others say, I hope they can stay strong, pursue their respective paths, and live by their convictions.