A scholarship lets you chase your dreams

Jin Kyu sitting at the Erasmus Pavilion

Jin-Kyu Daniel Noack (19) studies IBA at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a scholarship from the Erasmus Trustfonds. He is passionate about building a bridge between Asia and the West within the fashion industry.

“My greatest value is that I grew up between two cultures. My father is German and my mother, with whom I mainly grew up, is Korean. We visited our Korean family every year while we lived in multicultural Berlin ourselves. I consider myself to be equally German as Korean.  I studied biochemistry in Bavaria, though it didn’t make me happy. I want to work in the fashion industry and to make an impact there, as it is the second-most polluting industry in the world. 

“If someone loves what they do, they will always have a positive impact.”

Fast-fashion industry

Fast fashion is now mainly produced in China and East-Asia. There are many designers of Asian streetwear who become famous on TikTok and Instagram. What I want to do, is found a company that helps those designers by giving them a platform that facilitates their export to Europe and America. Thereby I will shift the consumer demand, which is already demanding more sustainability, to more sustainable and selected fashion, and away from the fast-fashion industry. This way, I can make a positive impact on the environment, on fashionability and culture exchange between Asia and Europe. 

Jin Kyu sitting on stairs at Erasmus Pavilion

Everybody says it, but maybe no young person really believes it, but I believe that doing what you want and what makes you happy is the most important thing in your life. If someone loves what they do, they will always make a positive impact.  

The spirit of a scholarship

The spirit of a scholarship, I think, is that it is something that you work for, so you are grateful for it, and you really want to make the most of it. I’ve never heard of someone receiving a scholarship being arrogant about it, or flexing with it. A scholarship offers you the opportunity to chase your dreams. So with a donation here, you are enabling people to do what they love and make an impact. In this way, you yourself as a donator can make an impact yourself.

A scholarship offers you the opportunity to chase your dreams.

I’m very happy that I live in Rotterdam now. I consider this city my new home. Because just as in Berlin, I’m in a bubble of openness, of multi-culture. That’s how I grew up, and I love it.’ 

More information

Do you also want to help fund scholarships for talented students like Jin Kyu? Support one or more participants of the Erasmus Charity Run via this link.

Compare @count study programme

  • @title

    • Duration: @duration
Compare study programmes