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#Greater confidence and flexibility regarding work; changes in lifestyle #Internship experience at a social enterprise; meeting a 'real adult' #Frustration with youth employment problems; the reality of work
When I graduate I''ll be thrown straight into the job market, but before becoming a member of any company I wanted to experience how a company runs as an intern — a stage with somewhat less burden than the role of an employee.
-Dispatching social enterprises that change the world, Gap Year Project / Jang Hyun-hee Gap Year Tribe gapper / 8-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
Each year 60,000 middle and high school students drop out, 346,000 people in their 20s are idle with no dreams, and the job turnover rate within one year of employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and over 80% of workers do not feel happy.Many people tell them to ''dream,'' but to solve this problem—where there are no practical methods or supports— we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to Korea as well.
''Gap Year (Gapyear)''It is a time to either combine or temporarily pause studies and work, and through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and startups,it is a time to set the direction to move forward, a practice encouraged in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other countries.
# A very ordinary college life — what do I want to do?
Hello. I am Jang Hyun-hee, who participated in the ''social enterprise internship.''I graduated in February and was thinking ''now I''m unemployed ^^!'', when a company I had worked with during the gap year social enterprise internship project contacted me,I started going to work in April. Through the internship project I experienced, I ended up working at the kind of company I had hoped for, and because of the current employment crisis, I wanted to share different ways to find jobs with more people, so I decided to write about my experiences.
I spent four years of college focused only on a very ordinary school life.Then, in my last semester, I took part in the ''social enterprise internship'' run by Gap Year.To be honest, I wanted to do something, but I could not even imagine entering a workplace.To me, a workplace felt like a place where you keep working but have no sense of presence.I wanted to do work where I could have a presence, where money matters but also that could break through some frustration in an interesting way,I had that desire. However, I still had no idea what that kind of work would be.
One day I went to see a professor and told him my feelings, and he said, ''Then you should try a social enterprise.''That''s what he said. That''s when I learned about social enterprises.And to be honest,It''s true that I chose a social enterprise out of the pressure to do something in my final semester.I had to graduate but had no opportunity to try something more, and at that time I learned about the gap year projectand I applied immediately.
# Frustration with young people''s employment problems — having to decide without even being given time to consider
Before fully entering society, I wanted to make use of my strengths and work properly for two months.I''ve always been very timid. I absolutely hate causing trouble for others.But once I graduate I''ll be thrown straight into the job marketBefore I actually became a member of any company or firm, I wanted to see how a company operates.I wanted to try it as an intern, which carries less burden than the role of an employee. Since I was in my final semester as a senior, I thought I could take less pressure before entering society and try applying my strengths to work.
And while researching the company I chose, I felt more that I wanted to participate ''well.'' Actually...Previously a professor recommended that I try working at a social enterprise and gave me the opportunity to intern there. It was the first time I learned about ''social enterprises,'' and at the time I did a two-month internship in a field far from what I wanted. As a result, I had no interest in the work, no motivation, and each day I felt really miserable.
So for the ''gap year internship project'' my mindset was more ''let''s do it well!'' than worried. So...The company I chose was one that, like ''Korea Gap Year,'' considers young people''s career paths and addresses them in an engaging way.At the time what I found most frustrating and stifling was the employment issue where young people have to decide without even being given time to think — in other words, youths who are losing themselves.Because I thought it was something I really wanted to do, I became more attached during the preparation, and I was very excited to intern at the company I wanted.
# An internship project I drove myself, not one that dragged me along
''The social enterprise internship project'' involves researching the company you chose before formally starting the internship,finding the company''s strengths and weaknesses, and preparing a proposal suggesting products/services that could help the company,was the mission.Through this process I was glad I could think deeply about the company I wanted to join and immerse myself in it. IEven though I spent Christmas Eve writing the proposal, I felt really proud.
Usually when you sign up for a project, you often feel like you''re being led by the project rather than leading it yourself,that happens a lot.But the experience of writing the proposal became a big opportunity to gain confidence before starting work.So while working on the project I was able to really immerse myself in the company, so my satisfaction was very high. The proposal I wrote then — even now, after the internship has ended, when I read it I think, ''Ah, I really thought a lot about this company,''and I feel really proud; that time wasn''t wasted.If anyone participates, I sincerely and strongly recommend that you definitely go through the proposal or planning process!
As a program assistant, I first experienced and learned the educational programs and activities in advance, then served as a mentor for a team at workshops or camps, explaining the program and guiding students. I also purchased and prepared materials and textbooks needed for the workshops or camps, and after the workshops or camps I organized activity photos and so on. I sometimes participated in simulating new programs or creating and planning materials needed for programs that were starting for the first time.
# During the internship I learned about people as well as work
The best thing about my internship was that I met so many great people there. I also naturally have a personality that really likes people, andthe company atmosphere was a bit different from the strict, orderly environment I had imagined and feared. Perhaps the company I went to was particularly...a very relaxed company in that regard ^^
First,The company''s CEO left the strongest impression.I was deeply impressed both by how the CEO treated me as an intern and by observing them from an outsider''s perspective.Honestly, in this day and age it''s hard to find ''real adults'' or ''true seniors''.There are many people who are more capable and more accomplished than me. But it''s difficult to find seniors or adults who inspire you.Honestly, social enterprises are extremely busy. Because they do good work, people tend to assume they only work moderately and earn modestly.You might think about applying for a social internship project. But the people here live and work with fierce dedication.
Many employees are rarely seen; when they''re buried in their own work they often don''t pay attention to who is in the company.But they make time once a week to gather friends who are thinking about and interested in social enterprises or youth career paths,bring them together to run projects, give lectures, and offer sincere advice.What''s even more surprising is that even though they''re so busy and could easily become imposing adults,they consider others who might feel intimidated and deliberately show a refreshing, humorous side first. They also show their sincerity first. Just seeing those attitudes, that philosophy, and those talks taught me naturally.I liked seeing real adults in life; I was moved, learned naturally, and was able to reflect on myself — it was great.
Also, although working hard in this project can be grueling, you''ll likely feel a strong sense of being respected.Honestly, it''s hard for staff who have worked together for years to give the same care to an intern who will work for only two months. Sometimes we interns go in with the mindset of ''I''m just an intern, so...''ButI never missed a full staff meeting. I attended every meeting. They asked for my opinion,and whether the work succeeded or failed, they trusted me and gave me opportunities first — of course, that can sometimes feel burdensome.But because I felt like I was truly a member of this place, I worked even harder. Really.
And one very touching aside.Like something out of the drama ''Misaeng''... I received a handwritten New Year''s letter from the CEO. So cool... thumbs up!
Finally, because I spent two months gaining experience in an area I''m usually interested in, I learned the ''truth about work.''When we say ''Let''s change youth culture in a fun way!'' we let our imaginations run as if we''re all going to be planners.Honestly, I thought that too. But more time is spent on execution than on planning.
For example, if you want to create a ''working professional seminar,'' to turn that soft idea into reality and build a stage you must prepare the program, gather supplies, rent a venue, prepare snacks, even handle tiny items. You prepare, then after it ends you clean up — I came to see this blunt reality. It was a significant realization and a refreshing experience for me.Rather than thinking of it as mere menial work, I felt strongly why the ''basics'' are important when doing work and reflected a lot. ^^
Meeting peers similar to me — including company staff — who create their own projects there and learn their ''dreams''allowed me to learn a lot, regardless of whether they were older or younger than me. The students I taught also listened so attentively and made eye contact as they heard my perhaps boring and stiff stories...I wanted to live a better life. After the internship ended, I posted this on Facebook. These were exactly the kind of people I was with :)
People, being human, are not perfect, the idea that people can be fulfilled by other people, the feeling of being loved and respected right now, the possibility that the dreams people tease about can become reality, Thank you to this place for giving me the gift of realizing that it''s happier to stand together with conviction than to rush off alone!
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# A social enterprise internship that became a major turning point before entering society
I think the internship became a major turning point for me before entering society.Through the internship many things changed for me. First,I gained confidence and flexibility about the path I should take going forward.Maybe because the company where I interned was related to careers,I feel I''ve become someone who can propose more alternatives for the way I''ll live in the future.I began to view work as ''continuing to do what you want'' rather than ''settling into a job with high certainty.''That''s how I came to see it.
Including the company where I stayed for two months, when you experience a social enterprise internship,there are many opportunities, along with the intensity of life and business, to meet ''people who turn what they want to do into work.''While it''s necessary to have regular internships to gain work experience by watching people succeed in established positions,there are also people who reflect on their lives and create their own roles to solve what they see as problems,and I think doing an internship at a live social enterprise is a truly unique experience and a refreshing learning opportunity.
Before learning simple tasks, it''s like ''another way of living?'' you might say,you get to learn about another direction for life.I think people in their twenties don''t know as many different paths for their lives as they might think.So for me, after experiencing the social internship, I think I became a much more flexible person.That''s only when compared to my past self ^^And after experiencing this internship, I can say I''m living a life I''m much more satisfied with than before.I can be proud of that.
# TIP for participants: Take time for yourself, not just time for tasks you need to do!
For those participating in the gap-year social enterprise internship project, I think many university ''fossils'' (?) will probably participate. I believe there will certainly be people who come because they don''t know what to do but need to build their CVs or gain experience. Even when choosing other gap-year projects instead of the internship, I think there will definitely be people trying to complete things they couldn''t finish in their current reality.
If you''re taking time to find yourself, I''d like ''gap year'' to hold meaning simply as ''time to discover myself.'' I hope you don''t drag in unfinished things like ''language studies'' or ''certifications''—things you couldn''t complete in reality—and use that precious time to punish yourself again. Of course, if ''learning a language'' or ''getting a certification'' in itself isn''t stressful and makes you happy, then by all means do it!!
Based on my experience, I started my gap year with a personal, low-pressure goal—something meaningful but really hard to accomplish in everyday life—and because I pursued that, I feel I spent a satisfying time.I used to be a very worried and overthinking person. As a result, I was always intimidated by work and didn''t really know how to enjoy myself.So my gap year goals were ''get rid of my patheticness!'' and ''have fun and come back!''It was a very small goal, but it was something I truly wanted. If I could gain it through a gap year, it would be a small but truly important mission that could change my life going forward.
I hope a gap year can have that kind of meaning.I hope it isn''t simply a refuge to escape from the tasks I haven''t been able to handle.Rather, I want it to be a time to generate the energy that will help me acquire in the future the things I really want but currently can''t have.I hope you spend it as ''time for myself,'' not ''time to get my tasks done.''Those small, modest goals will actually become a great driving force for you to plan your own life once you return to reality :) You can do it!
My gap year was
Experience ★★★★★
For me, who was relatively lacking in experience, it was an experience that helped me plan my life afterward—one I would choose again.
Learning ★★★★★
I learned so much. I was just learning the whole time.
Environment ★★★★☆
It wasn''t the latest high-end facility, but for living, both the people and the space were five-star.
Safety ★★★★★
What could possibly be unsafe?
Leisure ★★☆☆☆
If you really need rest, this project isn''t for you. I highly recommend it to those who want to gain life energy rather than rest!
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