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#Gained strong motivation to pursue the dream of becoming a nurse #An experience of overcoming the fear of meeting new people #Gained higher self-esteem and certainty about my dream
I studied hard to become a nurse, but at some point my confidence in my major began to waver. So the medical volunteer work I went to in Cambodia gave me a strong motivation for the profession of nursing, and through new experiences my confidence and belief in myself grew, giving me the strength to go further!
Anyone can do it! An overseas medical volunteer project treating Cambodian children! Jeongsin-sil, gap year participant (23)
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# I wanted to change myself in order to become a nurse!
As a fourth-year nursing student with employment right around the corner, I felt I was far from being ready to be a nurse. I thought I lacked the competencies a nurse should have. First of all, I was afraid of meeting new people and worried that they might dislike me or feel uncomfortable.
As a nurse I''d have to face patients I met for the first time, and I believed that being shy and putting up barriers each time wouldn''t be the right attitude for a nurse.Also, I wanted to change myself for future working life.
Another thing was that I wanted to try overseas medical volunteering in the future, so I wanted to experience it before graduation. I also wanted to learn various medical skills.
Lastly, the reason I took this gap year was because I needed strong motivation to pursue nursing as a lifelong career. Nursing requires a spirit of service, and I wondered whether I truly had that qualification, so I wanted to find a sense of purpose by volunteering in Cambodia.
* For Jeongsin-sil, who wanted meaningful experiences in her major by experiencing things herself,new challenge activities, tailored 1:1 personal missions about new experiences and career aptitude were provided daily, and a gap year notebook to reflect on herself and make plans was also provided.
# The Cambodian medical volunteer work I participated in changed me like this!
In Korea, medical practice was mostly based on theory. It got to the point where I was confused whether it was practical training or studying EMR computer charts, and I always had to be on guard and stay tense while learning.Also, when I saw new nurses being hazed in front of trainees, I thought ''that''s probably what I''ll be like in the future,'' and had long given up on a bright future as a nurse.
However, through the Cambodian medical volunteer work I participated in, this side of me changed.
At the local hospital there were only my friend and me as Koreans, and the dormitory I stayed in had many Western friends such as French, German, British, and American people.
At the hospital, 90% were French and Cambodian friends. Western friends would naturally greet each other, eat together, and start everyday conversations even when they were meeting for the first time. Seeing this and living together, I naturally thought, ''Ah, it''s no big deal! It''s easy!''When I mustered the courage to greet a new person and ask how they were, the other person willingly replied, and I even had the chance to become friends.
Having friends was nice, butlistening to their lives and dreams motivated me to live my own life more wonderfully and passionately, which I liked even more.As a result, before I knew it I found myself enjoying meeting new people.
# With warm encouragement while volunteering, my dream of becoming a nurse grew again.
The first thing I did at the local Cambodian hospital was learn how to give injections. Unlike in Korea, where you aren''t allowed to handle syringes, when I avoided giving injections because I was scared, they instead asked why I wasn''t doing it, encouraged me that I could, and taught me step by step through hands-on practice.
Of course I failed many times at first, but they didn''t scold or pressure me; they comforted me with smiles, saying it was okay.Not only the nurses but also the patients'' mindsets were different from Korea. They expressed gratitude for every nursing act, and even if a nurse made a mistake, instead of getting angry they would offer their other limb and say ''try it here,'' not blaming the nurse, which I really liked.
Watching these scenes, I thought that if it were here—if it were a hospital like this—it would be okay to work as a nurse.
Most people at the hospital weren''t good at English, but we could communicate using medical terms, and there was not much difficulty performing nursing tasks. Medical terminology that crosses nationalities and languages, and the profession of being a nurse who uses it, rekindled my interest.
I was amazed at myself for having these thoughts.And at the same time I set a goal to become a nurse abroad.
One day I was extremely nervous and gave an injection into a patient''s arm. I was sweating profusely and trying my best; as I was about to leave the room, the patient''s guardian put some pocket money into my pocket and said “eop-kkun (thank you),” and I almost welled up.
I wondered what I had done that was so great to deserve that; in fact, it was I who should have been thankful.Here I think I found both the meaning and the happiness of overseas medical volunteering. I learned that my small help can be a great strength and source of happiness for them, and that this in turn can make me happy again.I feel I learned a great lesson that truly cannot be measured in money.
# Now I have the confidence to run harder and go farther than anyone!
Previously, as the years passed I went along with friends'' opinions like “you studied nursing, so you should get a job as a nurse,” and that carried me through to my fourth year.In the first semester of senior year you have to choose the hospital you want to work for, meet TOEIC score requirements, write a personal statement, keep your grades up, and prepare for the graduation exam, the national exam, midterms, finals, and clinicals. I wasn''t ready to become a nurse, but being pushed to do all of this became so stressful that my self-esteem hit rock bottom. My grades, which had been among the top, kept falling no matter how many nights I stayed up studying—I was in a slump.
When asked “Would I be happy if I got a job right after graduation and started earning money?” my answer, without a second''s hesitation, was “No.”
Because money and employment simply weren''t my life goals, this gap-year overseas medical volunteer experience was truly meaningful to me. It was like a ray of light.
So my time in Cambodia was a month during which I could let everything go and spend a lot of time fully thinking about myself and my dreams.Through the daily gap-year missions the Korean gap-year coordinator sent by email, I discovered aspects of myself I hadn''t known, one by one.
By writing down my strengths through the gap-year missions and praising myself, my self-esteem naturally increased.And I began to find the things I liked one by one—reading, clothes, desserts, cafes, travel, etc. I had time to get to know myself, and as life''s burdens lifted I became happier day by day. I felt like I could finally breathe; it was the reward for having run without rest from middle school through my third year of university.
Now I feel confident that when I return to school next year I''ll run harder and go farther than anyone.
# The people I met in Cambodia!
The people who remain most in my memory were the nursing students from France. With them I dressed wounds and gave injections to patients together in the trauma ward. They had arrived about a week earlier, so they would make up for my shortcomings and often gave me advice.
The French friends showed me photos of France, and I showed them photos of Korea and talked about K-pop. Although it was only about a week, we became close enough to form a strong bond. Later we ate dinner together and became friends; they remain fond memories.
# My Cambodia travel route!
If you go to Cambodia, I definitely recommend visiting Angkor Wat!! I went to Angkor Wat for 2 nights and 3 days; here is some information for tourists:
<Angkor Wat: 2 nights, 3 days travel information>
*1-day pass entrance fee: $37
*Tuk-tuk small tour guide: $25 (includes sunrise) — small tour (visits only the main attractions).
*Phnom Penh <--> Siem Reap: round-trip bus $24 / duration 5 hours
*Accommodation: about $5 per night
First day: The day before, go to the ticket office before 5 AM to buy a ticket and make a $25 deal with the tuk-tuk driver (includes hotel pickup, sunrise, etc.).
Second day: Take the Angkor Wat tour. In the evening, have dinner on Pub Street and go to a pub.
Day 3: Rest up and head home.
This is how my trip went!
# Tips for Preparing My Gap Year!
- Language
: Communication wasn''t a big problem, but there were more people using the official language Khmer than I expected. There were many French people, so it might be good to learn some basic French.
- Accommodation
: In local accommodations, air conditioning is $6 per day, but if you use it for only 12 hours you can enjoy the small happiness of paying $3. At first the heat is hard to get used to, but if money is a concern, using it for just 12 hours is enough, so don''t worry.
- Meals
: Meals are provided locally, but you can also buy food at the supermarket and eat on your own, or cook instant noodles. You can use the kitchen freely without feeling self-conscious!
- Packing/Insurance
: It''s good to bring nail clippers and slippers. Also, I recommend checking the packing checklist one more time before departure!
My gap year
Experience★★★★★
: I was glad to be able to try many medical procedures that you can''t experience in Korea.
Learning★★★★
: I was able to review and study several key nursing topics I learned in nursing school, such as anatomy, medications, injection techniques, and aseptic technique.
Environment★★★★
: It''s a really good environment for learning. If you show even a little interest, there are many people who will teach you and plenty to see.
Safety★★
Leisure★★★★★
: Because it''s abroad and a new culture, I think living here itself is like traveling. If you take the bus you can go to Angkor Wat or Sihanoukville, so you can see famous tourist spots. There are many nearby options like yoga, swimming pools, cafes, supermarkets, department stores, and great restaurants, so I enjoyed leisure activities to the point of almost running out of money.
Attended by Jeong Shin-silCambodia Overseas Medical Volunteer ProjectIf you''re curious?!
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