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#My personality changed and my willingness to take on challenges increased #Overcame language barriers and gained confidence in my career path #Felt personal growth in an unfamiliar environment
Because I couldn''t understand what people were saying, adapting became harder as well. My first goal for my gap year was to make a variety of friends, and since I''m the type to approach others first, the language barrier felt really frustrating. So the method I came up with was to stick together no matter what.
-The Moment My Small Abilities Turn into Gifts: Volunteering with Disabled Children in Vietnam / Kim Dong-ju, Gap-year Gapper / 8-week Gap Year |
I think it was my second year of high school,
While I was worrying about which major to choose and how to decide my career path, I discovered the nursing major on a career site.It seemed to suit me. I''m outgoing and quick to reach out to help when others are struggling, and I always get energy from meeting and helping people.
HoweverThe amount of studying I had to do kept increasing, my enthusiasm for the major waned, and eventually I reached the point where I didn''t want to attend school.
My father suggested that even if I paused my studies for a while, I should gain various experiences and think about my major and career, and he found a gap year program online and told me about it.
To be honest, at first I had no expectations.
I decided to get gap year consulting at my father''s suggestion, but honestly, I had no expectations at first. I assumed it would be like the counseling sessions I''d had in high school, but the consulting was completely different from what I expected. They were able to accurately identify my current worries and the problems that were bothering me, and with the consultant I was able to plan directions to resolve them.
Deciding to spend my gap year volunteering at an orphanage in Vietnam was also a result of the gap year consulting.
Of course, volunteering wasn''t my main goal at first. The biggest aim was to meet friends from around the world who had come together to spend their gap year through volunteering! Volunteering was the second goal.
When I first arrived in Vietnam, only one thought came to mind.
''Will I really be able to do this well?''
I arrived at the organization on a weekend, and the staff weren''t around and the friends I was supposed to volunteer with had gone traveling, so it felt even more unfamiliar and I was very worried. Then on Monday I was introduced to my roommates: two Brits and one Nepali. Even though I had studied English in advance, the first month felt like an English listening test.
The tasks I was assigned weren''t easy either. Even within volunteering to care for children with disabilities, activities were divided, and I decided to assist the nurse in rehabilitation therapy—loosening the children''s muscles and providing massage or stretching—and to take part in English education activities. I thought I could make use of what I had learned in my major.
As for a typical day''s schedule,Around 10 o''clockI take the bus to the center and do rehabilitation activities with the nurse.
Around 12 o''clockAfter finishing activities until around then, we have lunch,
At 3 p.m.From 3 p.m., we resume activities.
In the afternoonwe go to another place to assist with stretching or conduct English lessons,
Around 5 o''clockwe finish work and eat dinner at the accommodation.
After the day''s work is overI mostly spent time going to the supermarket with friends to shop or going into town to hang out.
As I mentioned earlier, the hardest part during the gap year was the language.
Because I couldn''t understand what people were saying, adapting also became difficult. My first goal for the gap year was to make various friends, and since I''m naturally the one who approaches others first, the language barrier felt really frustrating. So the method I came up with wasTogether no matter whatthat was what I decided.
When they subtly suggested going on a weekend trip I would say okay and go along, and if they suggested going to eat something tasty I would agree and follow. Although it was hard to understand what they were talking about in the moment, I would sit with them and listen to the conversations, and by speaking out loud even with incorrect expressions, after about a month there came a point when I began to hear speech and could express my intentions.
Once I adapted like that, each day became really fun. It was a good experience to see the different ways my roommates lived, and I loved traveling. Especially Ha Long Bay, which I visited over a weekend, was a beautiful sight I''d never seen before.
If I compare before and after having a gap year, there are a few changes.
Personalitychanged.
Before the gap year I felt somewhat blocked, but now I''m much more outgoing. When planning things I used to overanalyze and calculate this and that and would often end up giving up, but my resistance to taking on new challenges has decreased.
Thoughtschanged.
Actually, success came first for me. Earning money and being successful were my priorities, but during the gap year, after meeting various people, people became the priority for me.
Career pathmy thoughts about it changed.
Crushed by major exams and busy just trying to earn credits, I was able to rediscover my interests and aptitudes that I had forgotten.
I had chosen a gap year because I no longer wanted to major in nursing and even wanted to quit school, but while spending the gap year I interacted with people, did volunteer work, and found helping others so enjoyable that I became certain, ''this is it.''
What is a gap year to me?
the most valuable year of my lifean opportunity to gain that time.
The gap year I spent was,
Experience★★★★★
I was able to have experiences I had not expected at all. I went with a bit of confidence in my English, but it completely fell apart and I had to start over. The process of solving problems on my own in an unfamiliar environment gave me the confidence that I can face and resolve whatever difficulties come my way in the future.
Learning ★★★★☆
The fact that my very way of thinking changed. From money to people. That is the biggest lesson.
Environment ★★★☆☆
It didn''t interfere with daily life at all, but because I went during the rainy season, it was uncomfortable and humid when hanging laundry.
Safety ★★★☆☆
There are occasional pickpockets, but if you take care yourself, there''s no major need for concern.
Leisure ★★★★★
From the moment work ends, it''s my free time. Whether I prepare the next day''s activities in advance or go into town to drink with friends, it''s my freedom.
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