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#Prioritizing myself, problem solving #Self-understanding, discovering happiness #The realization that happiness comes from small things
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Happiness doesn't come from doing something extraordinary; instead, I learned to find happiness in the little things. I was able to discover ways to find joy.
Going on a gap year doesn't automatically make you happy. But it created an opportunity for me to become happy.
I realized that I wasn't truly happy, and this awareness allowed me to make changes.
A cheerful experience teaching English with foreign friends in Chiang Rai, Thailand Jo Min-jeong, Korea GapYear Participant (Age 27, Gap Year for Career Planning) / 12-week Gap Year
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# "When making choices in the future, just do it that way~"
A solo trip to clear my frustration about not understanding my feelings. I met a younger friend working at a guesthouse who introduced me to the concept of a "gap year."
I returned to my daily life. Wanting to go on a longer journey, I spent all day searching for what I could do. My first time standing on my own—feeling overwhelmed about where to start.
At that time, the idea of a gap year suddenly came to mind. I was browsing the website and found counseling for "those who don’t know what they should do."
Living in Jeju, I had my first counseling session over the phone. I felt like I wanted to go in person, so I applied for an in-person session and went up there. Near the end of the session, the director of the gap year program asked me a question.
“What was on your mind when you decided to come here?"
“I just felt I had to come, so I came straight away.”
“When you make choices from now on, do it like that.”
I was never confident in my own choices. Hearing those words, I thought, "Oh, I made a confident choice, didn't I? I can actually do this." I was able to build the strength to make decisions by remembering the version of myself who made choices without hesitation.
# This time, my top priority was solely "me."
Hello, I’m Baek Jo Min-jung, 27, currently on a working holiday in Seoul. I spent a nine-month gap year doing various activities, including a language study program in the Philippines, English volunteer work in Thailand, and an internship focused on psychological therapy for elderly people with dementia in Greece.
I had always dreamed of going on an overseas volunteer trip. I decided to take some time for myself. I created time by taking a leave from school, and during a gap year consultation, I was recommended a program that seemed right for me. But when the time actually came to go, I found myself hesitating. It seemed like it would be costly, I wasn’t confident in my English, and more than anything, I was scared of ‘wasting time on something meaningless.’
I discussed my concerns with the gap year advisor. Could I improve my English skills? Who would provide feedback after lessons? With the time and money involved, would it really be worth it? I kept asking question after question.
They reassured me: I would be learning English, taking lessons in English, and interacting mainly with native speakers, creating an environment where I’d constantly use English. Everyone who had gone before had hesitated, but they all ended up satisfied. Since volunteers planned everything, I’d gain a lot from the experience. They answered every single question I had, and this time I felt, ‘Should I really go?’ I asked again.
The director then said, ‘Why don’t you study in Canada for a year?’ It hit me. I realized I wasn’t asking for an experience purely for myself but rather for a resume boost. Of course, that matters too, but this time, my priority was solely ‘me’.
‘If I’m doing this for myself, when else will I get a chance to go on an overseas volunteer trip that I’ve always wanted?’ I decided.
* For Minjung Cho, who had a strong desire for self-growth, a personalized daily mission focused on independence and self-reflection was provided before joining the project, along with a gap year notebook for setting plans and self-reflection.
# It was hard to adjust at first.
It was really hard to adapt at first. Before I went for volunteer work, I took a language course, and I felt pretty confident in my English. But during the first day of orientation, I couldn’t understand a word. Everything just went over my head—the unfamiliar accent and rapid pace of English. I couldn’t even follow simple directions. I was filled with anxiety about what to do next. These worries kept growing.
I just blamed myself for not knowing English. I got more discouraged, and didn’t feel motivated to try anything. Comparing myself to others just made me feel worse about my own language skills.
At that moment, I realized that constantly comparing myself would only lower my confidence without any benefit. “That's right, I’m not great at English. It’s not even my native language, so that’s okay. What can I do to improve from here?”
I began with what I could do. When my friends were talking, I pretended I was in a movie and just listened. Two weeks later, there was a morning meeting, and I understood everything. I usually just guessed and followed along, so I was so proud that I shouted, “I understood it!” after the meeting ended.
At first, I didn’t have the courage to lead a class, so I stayed at the back and watched the kids. Gradually, I spent more time in front of the class. Eventually, I found myself leading the class and even singing along! It was challenging, but I adapted because I didn’t give up.
I used to feel helpless, asking myself 'What should I do?' but now I think 'How can I solve this well?' I learned that I don’t have to compare myself with others and just focus on filling my life with things I can actually do.
I hope everyone participating in the gap year project can have faith in themselves and give themselves courage, even if they feel inadequate!
# How would I feel if I acted like this?
Through this project, I started asking myself ‘How would I feel if I acted like this?’ because before, I used to think, ‘How would the other person feel if I did this?’
One day, my class ended early. The guesthouse host offered to show me a monkey park, so I went along. Unfortunately, a monkey attacked me, and I had to get medical treatment and regular vaccinations for a while.
After the treatment, the guesthouse staff asked me to keep it a secret from the volunteer coordinator because if they found out, they might forbid staff from showing volunteers around in the future, and the staff member could also get in trouble.
The hospital was far away, and I had to attend class, so I was scared wondering if something would go wrong. I thought that if I told the organization, I could get help, but thinking about the staff, I realized they were doing it for us...
They asked me to keep it a secret, and I felt sorry, but the other volunteers seemed to think it was better to keep it a secret...
I went to the hospital alone over the weekend and on my way back to the accommodation, I felt lost about what to do next. I cried on the bus secretly, without my friends knowing.
After much thought, I contacted Gap Year. They told me to think selfishly for once. They said it was okay for me to think selfishly now, that I didn't always have to be considerate, and that it wasn't meant in a bad way, but in a good way.
As I kept talking, I realized that I should speak up, not just for myself, but also so that people like me wouldn't have to go through the same thing.
I told the organization the truth. After I spoke, they helped me, and I was able to get treatment easily. Although a warning was given to the guesthouse staff, the volunteers were able to continue touring.
Through this incident, I realized that by always thinking about others, I had neglected myself. It also became an opportunity to be considerate of myself.
When I feel like I am not thinking about myself, I stop for a moment. And I tell myself like a mantra, 'How would I feel if I act like this?'
# Living in the 'Now'
Before going to Thailand, when I was tired from studying English in the Philippines or when I was sick, I used to think, 'If I can just get through this, things will get better, right? I'll be happy when I get to Thailand.'
But when I first arrived in Thailand, even though it was fun, it wasn’t all that great. The English was tough, I couldn’t adjust, and for every problem I solved, another one popped up. As I mentioned before, I even got injured, and I started missing the Philippines, contacting friends, and thinking, 'Ah, I’d love to go to Greece, my next destination.'
But looking at myself, I thought, if I go to Greece, I’ll probably miss this moment, just like I’m missing the Philippines now. I realized that it would be such a waste to let this moment slip by. Rather than just worrying, I decided to do something to make myself happy right now. After that, I was able to enjoy the present moments happily.
On Friday night, it was the last chance for the volunteers to enjoy the city, and everyone was excitedly preparing to go out. Suddenly, a storm hit, and we couldn’t call a car. All the lights went out, and we were in a situation where there was nothing we could do. I thought to myself, 'How can we make the most of this moment?' and suggested to the kids that we watch a horror movie. It was disappointing that we couldn’t go out, but we were able to enjoy the best environment for watching a horror movie at that moment.
# How to Stay True to What I Want
When I have to go to class far from the volunteer organization, I use a hostel. One day, I wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed back and didn’t attend class. Then, when I felt recovered, I said I would go too. However, the leader told me that I still needed more rest and asked me to stay until the end of the week. I thought, 'There’s nothing I can do,' and was about to give up on going to volunteer.
Then, suddenly, the laughter of my friends next to me disappeared, and they asked me seriously.
“Do you want to go or not?”
“I want to go, but... since they said we could rest here... but resting might not be a bad idea.”
“No, just tell me what you want to do.”
“Honestly, I don’t want to go.”
“You have the right to choose. We’ll help you talk to the leaders again.”
With those words, they confidently helped me approach the leaders and talk again, and I was able to go with them.
Later, I talked with two Korean friends next to me, and everyone, including me, thought “It’s a pity, but we have to accept it.” The foreign friends all thought, “Let’s speak up and try to change it.”
What impressed me was not accepting that person's opinion but making them accept my own opinion. I realized at that moment that if you speak up, things can change, and they can be changed.
# It’s okay not to have a plan
Inside the moving car, one friend asked the sister who was hanging at the back of the car.
“What are you planning to do after this volunteering?”
“I don’t know. I’ll just travel until I run out of money and then think about it when I go back.”
She said it coolly. She seemed free. I was impressed by her not feeling down about having no plans, and I realized that even without a specific direction, it’s okay.
I thought it was a good decision to leave, but I was also worried about the uncertain future. Watching my sister, I thought, 'I don’t have to think about it now, I can think about it later.'
# Nothing is guaranteed.
In the dormitory of the institution, there are lizards, giant spiders, and other bugs. There is no hot water. The bathroom is self-service, the Wi-Fi is slow, and if the weather isn’t good, the service doesn’t work. It was not guaranteed that Wi-Fi would work well, that I could shower with hot water, or that there would be sturdy walls to protect from the sandstorm, or high-speed Wi-Fi. There was nothing that was guaranteed, even though I took it for granted.
When I thought that even small things are not guaranteed, I became grateful for even the smallest things.
# Can I be happy?
It was the end of the first week of classes, and I was on my way back to the dorm. A monk came up to me and said, ‘You don’t look happy.’ I was puzzled and smiled. This question kept lingering in my mind. ‘They’re just saying I don’t look happy, but maybe it’s not true.’
Then I asked myself, "Is what I'm doing right now actually making me happy?" But I couldn't answer. Actually, I thought I would be happy as soon as I left for my gap year. But I wasn't. I thought I'd become happy the moment I left, but that wasn't the case ^-^.. Haha. However, realizing this helped me improve.
It's not about doing 'something' to get closer to happiness.
After that, I started wondering, 'How do I become happy?' and 'Can I become happy?'
Through my time in Thailand, I experienced and realized thathappiness doesn't come from doing something special, but from the little things that bring happiness I was able to find ways to pursue happiness.
Leaving for a gap year doesn't immediately make you happy. But it creates an opportunity for it. I was able to change after realizing that I wasn't happy before.
If someone else asks, "Can I go if I want to?",
I would answer without hesitation.
"YES"
"The appeal of this project that I participated in and felt directly"
# I found the feeling I had as a child again.
When I was 9,playing in the playground with my friends, I felt it. I found it that innocence I had forgotten about. We had a contest to see who could draw the best pirate in one minute. "Do you want to drink the stagnant water, or kiss a spider?" I'll choose the spider." "I'll go with the water!"
Gathering around the campfire and asking questions following the stream of consciousness, walking through the dark forest at night and telling scary stories, playing the game where we say a sentence like "Once upon a time, I..." or "Once upon a time, I... - had rice" or "Once upon a time, I... - had rice- pyoong!" This game is played while sitting around the campfire.
I was able to remember the feeling of childhood that I had forgotten. I try to hold on to this feeling. Singing songs, drawing pictures, playing small games. I was able to do things that I knew but had forgotten.
# Friends, places, and memories I would not have met if it weren't for this place
Going to the night market and dancing traditional dances with my grandmother, having a beer with the Super Family as I pass by, the familiar shops that always greet me. Our hangout spot, Coconut Bar, where we went every Friday, the strange village where all the residents went to bed at 10 PM and woke up at 5 AM.
The time spent playing games with the neighborhood kids until bedtime. When I close my eyes, Chiang Rai appears in my mind, full of warm memories.
Not only can you visit the popular tourist spots, but you can also experience every corner of Chiang Rai. Without this project, I wouldn't have met the friends, places, and memories that I did.
# You can help the children.
Speaking English itself gives children job opportunities and is a means to improve their quality of life. There aren't many opportunities to learn English. We can create time for them to learn. Just knowing that we can help the children is something we are proud of.
# The Class I Create
Everything is planned and carried out by the volunteers themselves.
It was the first opportunity to try something from start to finish on my own! I went from 'Can I do this?' to 'I can do this!'
I was used to always being told what to do, so it was hard for me to do things without someone else's instructions, but this experience allowed me to try doing something on my own.
I thought I was giving up on job-related qualifications, but these experiences became fun sources for my personal resume.
# Learning While Socializing with Friends
New friends join every two weeks.
Melissa, who wasn't afraid to make a fool of herself to give fun facial expressions to engage the kids; Muscle Queen, who worked hard even during breaks to keep her abs in shape; the lively Joshua, who had more energy than anyone else; Rebecca, the language and food queen, who mastered everything from Korean language to Korean food; Sofia, the delicate woman trying out the construction volunteer work before entering the office, and two London friends who were doing an 18-month gap year together; Page, the note-taking queen, who documented everything. People who traveled while volunteering, moving from Bali to India and then Thailand.
It was great to have a meaningful trip, and I thought that I should try it too. Since it was an environment where I could interact with many people and different friends, there was so much to learn from each of them.
# My Recommended Travel Destinations
Chiang Mai - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
This is a place that helps elephants escape abuse and live freely. You can feed them bananas, play in the mud, bathe them, and go on walks. You can connect with elephants that laugh with joy.
Unlike animals like horses, elephants have a bone structure that is not suitable for carrying things on their backs. Elephant trekking experiences are said to be the result of abuse that can cause bone deformation.
This is already such a large business, and the only way to stop it is by taking a path that people don't follow.
I recommend the "Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary," where not only we can have fun and make memories, but the elephants can be happy too.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
