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During the semester I vowed, “Just wait for vacation! I'll do everything I couldn't do to my heart's content!!!” but, as always, vacation ended with the frustration of “I didn't do anything this vacation either!!!!!”. Over four years of college I had as many as eight vacations and always promised “I won't do this next vacation,” but as soon as I left school my mind left too. Always!
And this repertoire seems unchanged over time. Even now, near the end of vacation many students come for counseling saying, “I didn't do anything this vacation. What should I do in the few days left?” So for those of you who are new to college!! I've freely put together recommended plans by year on how to make the most of your vacation!
Note: This is a recommended plan from someone who has experienced college once and thinks, “If I went back to being a college student I'd do it like this!” It is not a perfect answer. It can vary depending on personal tendencies and circumstances, and on major or career path. Still, if you're once again worrying “What should I do this vacation?” I hope you'll take a look :) |
PART 1. If you're a college freshman, 'Part-time jobs & travel'
1. Part-time job
For college freshmen, the first vacation feels like your first freedom as an adult and often starts with “It's vacation, so I'll sleep in today,” leading to two months of days and nights turned upside down. If you don't have any particular plans for this vacation, try starting a part-time job!As you advance in grade, obligations increase more than things you want to do. So I recommend earning money now so you can freely do what you want.Even if you're financially comfortable, from experience it's good to try it at least once. Through part-time work you can indirectly figure out industries or jobs that suit you! In a survey of workers, 86% said they would do a part-time job if they became college students again (2017 JobKorea survey), and about 84% of college freshmen chose part-time work as their vacation plan.
What kind of part-time job should you get?
According to a 2017 survey, most students cited proximity to home (54%), high pay (42%), and full-day work (42%) as criteria for finding part-time work (2017 Albamon survey).
I also started a part-time job on January 2 when I turned 20 to cover living expenses, and except for the fourth-year vacation when I was preparing for employment, I worked continuously. From restaurant serving to private tutoring, big supermarket events, election jobs, and government office work—whenever a position opened, I took it. What I learned was:1) Close to home 2) Activities that suit me 3) High payI think it's best to look in that order.
You might wonder whether you should find part-time work that suits you, but if it doesn't suit you, no matter how much they pay, it's really hard (personal experience). Among the jobs I did was event work at a big supermarket where the daily wage was about 1.5–2 times higher than regular part-time work. But you have to stand all day, smile and push products, the manager constantly watches you, you have to carry stock when the warehouse is empty, and sometimes deal with terrible customers. I quit after one day and, no matter how much they paid, I never went back! I realized I'm really not suited to service jobs. (Personally, government office part-time jobs were the best.)
The worst part-time jobs chosen by college students included parcel loading/unloading, mascot costume work, road paving, parking attendants, and managing charcoal at barbecue restaurants, so keep that in mind when looking for a job!
2. Travel
In a survey conducted among office workersIn response to the question 'What would you most recommend to university students?', 'Travel' was overwhelmingly the number one answer.It took first place. Of course, I really, really, really recommend traveling too! (I couldn't go on a trip myself, which is my biggest regret.) The freshman year vacation at university usually ends with just hanging out unless there is a special plan. The catch is that it doesn't even feel like you really had fun. Since you're going to relax anyway, really enjoy it properly!
Solo travel vs. traveling with friends
Actually, information for student travel—tips, itineraries, routes, and costs—is already very detailed on many online communities with a little searching, so here I want to talk about solo travel versus traveling with others: topics people are most curious about but that no one answers clearly.
Of course it depends on the purpose of the trip, but personally I recommend that students travel alone more often. Going with friends reduces fear, is more comfortable, and can create many memories, but because you spend most of the time together you are likely to end up just taking photo souvenirs and sightseeing. You can do sightseeing much better once you are older and have money!
If you travel alone, it may be scary at first. But the first step is the hardest; once you start it's not such a big deal. Rather, when you finish the trip and return,a sense of confidence and self-reliance from having done it alonewill increase significantly. Also, by handling unexpected situations at the destination,you can develop problem-solving skills and quick thinkingas well, and while travelingmeeting other travelers and sharing stories can broaden your perspectiveYou may also expand your thinking. Of course, you might experience loneliness—eating alone at a restaurant, or seeing a beautiful view with no one to share the emotion with. But through this loneliness you will focus solely on yourself, learn about yourself, and grow.
For international travel, going alone is good, but I recommend even more traveling that lets you mingle and live with foreigners! By talking with peers from other countries about what they think and how they choose their career paths, you'll realize how different their values can be, and living with them will let you view yourself objectively. The origin of the word 'travel' means 'suffering' or 'toil.' So,why not take the time to travel as a true traveler—not a tourist—and reconsider the direction and path of your life?
Conclusion :
Recommended order: travel with foreign friends > travel solo > travel with friends (or Koreans)!
PART 2. If you're a sophomore in university, 'Extracurricular Activities'
You might have spent your freshman break doing nothing and promised yourself you'd work hard in sophomore year! But people tend to repeat the same mistakes and regret them. To avoid looking up and realizing "Oh, classes already started?" at the end of your sophomore break, prepare properly! You're getting used to college life, you're curious about what others are doing and how they live, and seniors tell you to do many extracurricular activities—but there are so many. So here's how to find the extracurricular activities that suit you!!
What extracurricular activities suit me?
Is it always better to do as many extracurricular activities as possible? NO NO!! If you take part in activities that don't suit you, you'll only waste time and money and end up with nothing. Compare the two types below and try the type of activities that fit you!
Type A I'm not yet sure if my major suits me. I'm still uncertain about what direction to set for my future career. My friends all seem to be busy doing something, but I don't know what I should do. I'm not sure what I like and what I'm good at. I need new motivation and stimulation. Type B I chose my major based on the career I dreamed of since I was young. As I take major courses, I feel it suits me well. The company I want to join or the job and tasks I want are clear. I know what I'm good at and what I like. Because my dreams and goals are clear, I have many daily preparations to make, so I'm busy but it's fun and enjoyable. |
For Type A You don't yet know yourself well, so it's natural to have many concerns about career and direction. In this case, it's important to meet more people and discover your interests and aptitudes through a wide variety of experiences. Therefore, among extracurricular activities, we recommend volunteering, camps, lectures, mentoring, and other group activities where you can gain many experiences with others.
For Type BBecause your career path and direction are clear, we recommend trying activities such as marketers or supporter programs and competitions run by companies you want to join. By experiencing the companies and roles you aim for in advance, you can either gain confidence in your choice or, if the real experience differs from what you imagined, quickly change your career path or direction.
Besides, aren't there extracurricular activities with obviously great conditions that any college student tries at least once, like fully-funded overseas volunteer programs and 'heavenly part-time jobs'? Just go for them. If you get accepted, just go! However, those attractive activities have insanely high competition rates... (Is the basic competition rate for 'heavenly part-time job' really 1,000:1?)
You can easily find information about extracurricular activities—such as recruitment schedules and eligible participants—by checking communities for college students. Once you know which type suits you, consider the location, duration, specific activities, and participation costs, and choose an activity you like to try!
In my case, I majored in public administration but had no interest in my major and no plan for 'how to make a living'. I applied to the popular extracurricular activities mentioned earlier but was always eliminated at the document screening stage, and I didn't want to join corporate supporter programs that meant nothing to me at the time. Then I took part in volunteer work at a local children's center and ran a camp for low-income children with fellow college students from across the country. Even though it was a short period, I suddenly felt—boom!!!!—'my path is education.' Since then, although I gave up on my major, I've been working in the education field and doing well.
It would be great if you could find the perfect career path or direction through extracurricular activities at once, but that's unlikely. ThereforeActively try a wide variety of activities!If you find extracurricular activities that suit you and they help determine your career or direction, that's ideal. Even if not, you'll have realized that this activity doesn't suit you and can exclude it when deciding your path. Above all, for those still wandering, I highly recommend volunteer work.
▶︎ How to choose volunteer activities that suit me (Click) Editor 'Orangju', who found their career path by doing various inexpensive volunteer activities during college, shares their experience!
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