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#Formation of genuine values and convictions #Internship at a Thai NGO; successful personal project #Comfort, Gratitude, Growth
Inside it, you''ll reflect on yourself, express yourself without pretension, practice loving, become a kinder version of yourself, and experience a lot. Three months is short! I hope you make each day count. Harvard student heads to Thailand to brighten the world Han Chaewon — gap-year participant (21, university student) / 12-week gap year |
Because I had been living a life in Korea that was too busy and exhausting, getting away from that was also a goal.
Hello, I''m a university student majoring in international trade.I applied for an NGO internship project to help shape my career direction in international development.I took a leave of absence after finishing the first semester of my third year and applied. During the project I ran a crowdfunding campaign I had planned in Korea, and I also participated in the environmental agricultural technology program because I wanted to gain insight into sustainable development.
Honestly, I started this for my résumé and career. As I studied trade and learned about developing countries, my childhood trip to the Philippines and my regular volunteer translation work for NGOs began to align with my studies.I chose an NGO internship as the first step because I wanted to combine international development and trade in my career.I actually wanted to go to Vietnam, but I chose this project because I focused less on the country and more on whether I could participate in the project with some degree of responsibility and what experiences I could gain.
Before leaving I didn''t prepare much besides visa, insurance, and plane tickets. Gap Year provided enough support for preparations, so there were no difficulties. My goal for this project was first to succeed with my personal project. In addition, participating in the environmental business sector was a goal.Also, because I had been living such a busy and draining life in Korea, escaping that was also a goal.
* Wanted new experiences and to explore career pathsHan Chaewon received daily missions that challenged her existing thinking and tailored one-on-one personal missions for new experiences and challenges, and she was also given a Gap Year Note to reflect on herself and make plans.
In conclusion, I was able to learn a lot.
In the first week you meet with the local staff. You explain why you''re there and what project you''ll be doing. It''s important to describe not only your personal project but also what you want to learn. That way you''ll also take on foundation work alongside your personal project (I briefly handled grant paperwork, and the local coordinator always informed me about project-related tasks at the local organization).
My daily routine was as follows. I started work at 9 and had breakfast with friends. They usually ate oatmeal or toast. I don''t usually eat breakfast, so I would have a cup of tea or coffee instead. On Tuesdays there was a volunteer meeting at 10 a.m.We briefed the project progress with the local staff and the volunteer coordinator and discussed what was needed and what should be brought up with the foundation.
When there were no meetings, I worked on my personal project. Since I had a personal project schedule, I followed that. Sometimes there were public health home visits and farm visits. None of this was pre-scheduled; the staff in the office would stop by and tell us as things came up. Whether to participate or not was up to you.
In my case, I took part no matter what, even if it meant doing my personal project after work.Thanks to that, I was able to understand how the local organization operated, and ultimately I learned a lot.Lunch was eaten with colleagues at the restaurant. Dinner was also at the restaurant, but on Thursdays we cooked together in the kitchen and ate with the organization''s founding couple. Work ended at 5, and we went to the restaurant at 6 for dinner, but the children did their homework in the restaurant from 4. So I would go to the restaurant around 5:45 to greet and play with the children. Unless you''re teaching the children, you''ll have little time to spend with them, so keep this in mind if you want to spend time and become close with the children.
I became really close with Neila, Ellie, and Meghan, who completed the internship with me. We still keep in touch.I also became close with a Thai staff member who was a manager. With the same colleagues, we would go to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai every weekend. Also, a local staff member wanted to export biochar to Korea, and I vowed to help with that work in the future.
Once I confirmed what I would take up as a profession, I felt much more at ease.
I had applied focusing only on what I could gain objectively, but I was grateful to receive a lot of affection while working at the local organization. I formed good friendships with the three friends who completed the internship with me, and I also had good times with the local staff.
What I realized was that I personally became sincere about the values I had worked to pursue. Now my conviction is to manage business relationships so that corporate business, the sustainable economic development of developing countries, and improvements in quality of life can coexist.
Previously, to create a story for my personal statement I would piece the narrative together logically, but now that it feels genuine I actually feel more at ease.Knowing what I will pursue as my profession, rather than just getting a job, has made me feel much more at ease.Working on a crowdfunding project helped me organize these thoughts a lot. In addition, I was able to experience marketing and planning.
Also, by participating in the environmental projects of the local organization I acquired knowledge about the field, and I plan to later take on other external activities such as global challenges related to renewable energy.I think this project gave me the source/fuel to move on to the next stage.
A memorable moment was my time with a Thai staff member at the local organization. The foundation had an adopted baby just over one year old; the child resembled me a lot when I was young and was so cute that I took good care of them and became close. However, the kitchen aunt who adopted the baby couldn''t speak any English, so there was never any interaction.But on the last day she came without saying anything and gave me a gift. I cried a lot then.
# I really feel at ease now that I''ve developed the values I should pursue in life.
First of all, my English improved a lot.I have to mention this as well. When I was there there were only three colleagues, but the four of us got along so well. Since we were always together from weekdays through weekends, my English naturally improved a lot. I could already express myself before, but now I''m more fluent and I don''t feel afraid or nervous to speak.
Second, I was able to give authenticity to the values I had tried to pursue. Before, I had a habit of always thinking logically, weighing things up and constructing a story like, ''If I apply to this company with this story, would my chances be higher?'' That caused me a lot of stress.
But now I have conviction, and having values to pursue in life rather than just seeking employment has made me feel really at ease.I feel that my perspective has broadened. My goal has become to be a trader who handles business relations with developing countries and to pursue sustainable economic development and a better quality of life in those countries.
# To prospective participants
I hope you plan your personal project well. If you have questions, you can ask the gap year organizers or the local organization. Realistically speaking, within the first week you should be able to confirm for yourself what your position (assigned tasks) at the local organization will be. And participate in every opportunity given, observing and learning about each business area of the local organization! That''s the priority.
If you dedicate yourself sincerely like that, your relationships with the staff will improve, and your relationships with fellow interns will naturally get better. And within that you will reflect on yourself, express yourself without pretense, learn to love yourself, become a kinder version of yourself, and you will feel a lot.
Three months is short! I hope you make every day count.
# My personal Thailand travel tip
I always went to Chiang Mai, but it wasn''t really a trip so much as going to spend time in the city with friends, so there aren''t any special tourist spots...
There''s a place called the Sticky Waterfall, which is nice. It''s great to go with friends — good for playing in the water. Also, there''s a lake behind the local organization where you can go in the mornings and evenings and take a boat. There''s nothing special — just boats and oars left by the lakeside. A local staff member suggested we go and it was really nice.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
It was the best experience I could have while taking a leave of absence from school. I feel like I experienced things that are exactly the opposite of what I could learn in the environment I lived in (Seoul/university).
Learning★★★★★
Rather than actually acquiring knowledge, it seems I was able to broaden my perspective and develop insight. That was my goal.
Environment★★★★★
I was very satisfied because I had so much fun with my friends.
Safety★★★★★
The public safety was good.
Leisure★★★★★
You can easily go to Chiang Mai. I went out to hang out with friends every weekend. And after finishing all the work I was responsible forIf so, I told the Hyundi staff and received permission to take about a day off connected to the weekend to go out.
Inside it, you''ll reflect on yourself, express yourself without pretension, practice loving, become a kinder version of yourself, and experience a lot. Three months is short! I hope you make each day count. Harvard student heads to Thailand to brighten the world Han Chaewon — gap-year participant (21, university student) / 12-week gap year |
Because I had been living a life in Korea that was too busy and exhausting, getting away from that was also a goal.
Hello, I''m a university student majoring in international trade.I applied for an NGO internship project to help shape my career direction in international development.I took a leave of absence after finishing the first semester of my third year and applied. During the project I ran a crowdfunding campaign I had planned in Korea, and I also participated in the environmental agricultural technology program because I wanted to gain insight into sustainable development.
Honestly, I started this for my résumé and career. As I studied trade and learned about developing countries, my childhood trip to the Philippines and my regular volunteer translation work for NGOs began to align with my studies.I chose an NGO internship as the first step because I wanted to combine international development and trade in my career.I actually wanted to go to Vietnam, but I chose this project because I focused less on the country and more on whether I could participate in the project with some degree of responsibility and what experiences I could gain.
Before leaving I didn''t prepare much besides visa, insurance, and plane tickets. Gap Year provided enough support for preparations, so there were no difficulties. My goal for this project was first to succeed with my personal project. In addition, participating in the environmental business sector was a goal.Also, because I had been living such a busy and draining life in Korea, escaping that was also a goal.
* Wanted new experiences and to explore career pathsHan Chaewon received daily missions that challenged her existing thinking and tailored one-on-one personal missions for new experiences and challenges, and she was also given a Gap Year Note to reflect on herself and make plans.
In conclusion, I was able to learn a lot.
In the first week you meet with the local staff. You explain why you''re there and what project you''ll be doing. It''s important to describe not only your personal project but also what you want to learn. That way you''ll also take on foundation work alongside your personal project (I briefly handled grant paperwork, and the local coordinator always informed me about project-related tasks at the local organization).
My daily routine was as follows. I started work at 9 and had breakfast with friends. They usually ate oatmeal or toast. I don''t usually eat breakfast, so I would have a cup of tea or coffee instead. On Tuesdays there was a volunteer meeting at 10 a.m.We briefed the project progress with the local staff and the volunteer coordinator and discussed what was needed and what should be brought up with the foundation.
When there were no meetings, I worked on my personal project. Since I had a personal project schedule, I followed that. Sometimes there were public health home visits and farm visits. None of this was pre-scheduled; the staff in the office would stop by and tell us as things came up. Whether to participate or not was up to you.
In my case, I took part no matter what, even if it meant doing my personal project after work.Thanks to that, I was able to understand how the local organization operated, and ultimately I learned a lot.Lunch was eaten with colleagues at the restaurant. Dinner was also at the restaurant, but on Thursdays we cooked together in the kitchen and ate with the organization''s founding couple. Work ended at 5, and we went to the restaurant at 6 for dinner, but the children did their homework in the restaurant from 4. So I would go to the restaurant around 5:45 to greet and play with the children. Unless you''re teaching the children, you''ll have little time to spend with them, so keep this in mind if you want to spend time and become close with the children.
I became really close with Neila, Ellie, and Meghan, who completed the internship with me. We still keep in touch.I also became close with a Thai staff member who was a manager. With the same colleagues, we would go to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai every weekend. Also, a local staff member wanted to export biochar to Korea, and I vowed to help with that work in the future.
Once I confirmed what I would take up as a profession, I felt much more at ease.
I had applied focusing only on what I could gain objectively, but I was grateful to receive a lot of affection while working at the local organization. I formed good friendships with the three friends who completed the internship with me, and I also had good times with the local staff.
What I realized was that I personally became sincere about the values I had worked to pursue. Now my conviction is to manage business relationships so that corporate business, the sustainable economic development of developing countries, and improvements in quality of life can coexist.
Previously, to create a story for my personal statement I would piece the narrative together logically, but now that it feels genuine I actually feel more at ease.Knowing what I will pursue as my profession, rather than just getting a job, has made me feel much more at ease.Working on a crowdfunding project helped me organize these thoughts a lot. In addition, I was able to experience marketing and planning.
Also, by participating in the environmental projects of the local organization I acquired knowledge about the field, and I plan to later take on other external activities such as global challenges related to renewable energy.I think this project gave me the source/fuel to move on to the next stage.
A memorable moment was my time with a Thai staff member at the local organization. The foundation had an adopted baby just over one year old; the child resembled me a lot when I was young and was so cute that I took good care of them and became close. However, the kitchen aunt who adopted the baby couldn''t speak any English, so there was never any interaction.But on the last day she came without saying anything and gave me a gift. I cried a lot then.
# I really feel at ease now that I''ve developed the values I should pursue in life.
First of all, my English improved a lot.I have to mention this as well. When I was there there were only three colleagues, but the four of us got along so well. Since we were always together from weekdays through weekends, my English naturally improved a lot. I could already express myself before, but now I''m more fluent and I don''t feel afraid or nervous to speak.
Second, I was able to give authenticity to the values I had tried to pursue. Before, I had a habit of always thinking logically, weighing things up and constructing a story like, ''If I apply to this company with this story, would my chances be higher?'' That caused me a lot of stress.
But now I have conviction, and having values to pursue in life rather than just seeking employment has made me feel really at ease.I feel that my perspective has broadened. My goal has become to be a trader who handles business relations with developing countries and to pursue sustainable economic development and a better quality of life in those countries.
# To prospective participants
I hope you plan your personal project well. If you have questions, you can ask the gap year organizers or the local organization. Realistically speaking, within the first week you should be able to confirm for yourself what your position (assigned tasks) at the local organization will be. And participate in every opportunity given, observing and learning about each business area of the local organization! That''s the priority.
If you dedicate yourself sincerely like that, your relationships with the staff will improve, and your relationships with fellow interns will naturally get better. And within that you will reflect on yourself, express yourself without pretense, learn to love yourself, become a kinder version of yourself, and you will feel a lot.
Three months is short! I hope you make every day count.
# My personal Thailand travel tip
I always went to Chiang Mai, but it wasn''t really a trip so much as going to spend time in the city with friends, so there aren''t any special tourist spots...
There''s a place called the Sticky Waterfall, which is nice. It''s great to go with friends — good for playing in the water. Also, there''s a lake behind the local organization where you can go in the mornings and evenings and take a boat. There''s nothing special — just boats and oars left by the lakeside. A local staff member suggested we go and it was really nice.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
It was the best experience I could have while taking a leave of absence from school. I feel like I experienced things that are exactly the opposite of what I could learn in the environment I lived in (Seoul/university).
Learning★★★★★
Rather than actually acquiring knowledge, it seems I was able to broaden my perspective and develop insight. That was my goal.
Environment★★★★★
I was very satisfied because I had so much fun with my friends.
Safety★★★★★
The public safety was good.
Leisure★★★★★
You can easily go to Chiang Mai. I went out to hang out with friends every weekend. And after finishing all the work I was responsible forIf so, I told the Hyundi staff and received permission to take about a day off connected to the weekend to go out.
What makes this project special
