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Focus only on your own growth.
GapYear is a time for growth and happiness.
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Name:Park Sang-hyun
Gap year period:July 2014 – February 2015
Experiences during the gap year:Street fashion photography
Reason for taking a gap year
To overcome my short educational background, I got a job earlier than others with the idea of quickly building experience in one field. Looking back, I had only gotten a job early; in the end, I had entered a repetitive, hamster-wheel-like routine earlier than my peers.
One day, while I was repeating the cycle of commuting to and from work, an older close friend casually asked me.
“Sang-hyun, do you want to go on a working holiday with me?”
As soon as I was asked, without much thought and without asking anyone else,
“Sure, let's go~”With that casual answer, I made the decision to quit my job.
And with that decision, the gap year of my life began.
My gap year story
My life's gap year began with an Australian working holiday.
When I decided to do a working holiday, I didn't even consider which country to go to.
I had decided from the start on Australia for the working holiday, so I didn't worry much. If I had any late concerns, it was deciding which city to go to when purchasing the plane ticket, and as a result I did my first Australian working holiday in Brisbane on Australia's east coast.
It's been seven months since I started my working holiday. Looking back briefly as I write this, I don't think I've had a typical working-holiday experience. Of course, working and using English were no different from other working holidaymakers, but the part that was a little different wasthat I carried a camera and went around taking street fashion photos.
I was lucky and was able to find a job right after arriving in Brisbane and work at a rental car company.
I woke up at 4:30 AM, got to work before 6, and finished by 2 PM, so the day felt quite long; the time after 2 PM when work ended was by no means short for spending on myself.
As soon as I got home I would change my clothes and head straight into the city—it was always around 3 o'clock. From 3 until sunset I would stop people passing by and take street photos. I'm working on a fashion photography project with the older guy I came with, and because we went out to shoot every day, seven months later in Brisbane, Australia,about 600 peopleof street fashion.
Meeting different people every day, I used English consistently without missing a day; although there were limits to my expression, I could feel the range of things I could express increasing day by day. Even on days when I didn't take photos, I would meet and greet friends I had photographed before. Over time, friends even began to contact me first to ask for photo shoots.
By taking photos like this, I found it quite easy to become friendly with strangers even when visiting other travel destinations. Also, living busily day to day and talking with many people, I found myself using English more comfortably and learning how to become friends with people I met for the first time.
What I gained through my gap year
The best thing about taking a gap year abroad isEnglish—I largely overcame my nervousness about it and gained a lot of confidence.
After leaving Korea and coming to Australiaif I compare the time when I first arrived and now, there are definitely more words I can hear and the range of things I can express has widened.
I haven't reached native-level English, but when I first entered Australia I really couldn't understand anything. I think the people speaking probably felt considerable stress too. However, now I hang out and drink with close foreign friends, and when I see myself socializing I can clearly feel that I've improved.
Thanks to my gradually improving English skills, having conversations itself became enjoyable, and I increasingly felt I didn't need to attend a speaking academy. Asking for directions on the street and having people in restaurants answer my questions—all of them felt like my conversation teachers. I think these are the advantages one can gain when taking a gap year abroad.
To young people planning a gap year
A gap year is not necessarily the answer to life.
Therefore, I don't want to recommend it as 'a gap year is the best' or 'something you must try in life'.
The reason is that, even if it's not necessarily a gap year, in each person's lifein their own waythey can find a good path.
I hope you won't waste your precious youth with an easy decision like 'Everyone else is doing it, so I should try it too'.
But if you decide to take a gap year, I hope you make a more concrete plan before taking action so you don't waste time.
I believe that a gap year will certainly bring results beyond the time you spend productively.Also, listen to the stories of many people and take time to strengthen your own convictions.
