I was known as the “girl who has her life together.” This all changed when I came to university.
All the clear goals faded and I started to waver between different opportunities – I didn’t know what I was going to do. I no longer had a clear path or end goal. It was no longer simple.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do after university and I felt lost. Moreover, being in university and being surrounded by hundreds of talented people, I started to feel anxious as I noticed I lacked the skills to succeed in my dream of being a journalist, lawyer or diplomat.
This made me doubt whether these jobs would be a right fit for me.
The value in every opportunity
What helped pull me out from this cloud of confusion and anxiety was the Welcome Centre Student Ambassador Work Learn position at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre. I’m not saying that this opportunity got my life sorted. In fact, I’m still unsure about my future. But what I gained was assurance and confidence.
What this position taught me was that your work does not have to be directly related to the field you are pursuing. What’s important are the skills you gain from every and any experience.
The biggest skill I developed as a Student Ambassador was my professional verbal communication skills. Presenting my opinions to professionals and academics at work was daunting and something I always tried to avoid, fearing I would say something silly and useless to those who have more experience and knowledge. However, the projects I worked on as a Student Ambassador pushed me to assert my thoughts and ideas. What surprised me the most was the amount of encouragement my supervisors gave me. When planning an annual event, my supervisor asked for my opinion, listened carefully and asked questions. I felt respected.
Over time and with much practice, I became a confident speaker in a professional work environment. The skills I developed enabled me to see the potential I had within myself. My fear of not being proactive in preparing for my future had subsided. I knew these skills will help me in my career regardless of what I do.
Discovering transferable skills
During my exchange program at Seoul National University, I learned that the professional communication skills I acquired from my Work Learn experience was relevant beyond the office environment. I had the opportunity to join a seminar on peace in the Korean peninsula, which involved lectures by NGO staff and politicians, and ended with open discussions on the subject of peace and reunification.
The fact that I was one of the youngest undergraduate students in a group full of professionals and graduate students made it daunting for me to voice my thoughts out loud. But I pushed myself to speak up even if I didn’t end up saying the right things. I was surprised at myself as I engaged in the discussions. Once again, I felt confident and self-assured as one of the few undergraduates in the room.
As someone who aspires to become a journalist, diplomat, lawyer (occupations that require speaking in front of a big group about diplomatic matters), my participation enabled me to see my abilities in a different light. Looking back today, I realised how I was able to courageously speak up and participate in the Peace Seminar because I had progressed as an assertive speaker during my time as a Welcome Centre Ambassador.
Although I am still not so sure of what I want to do after graduation, at least now I know the steps I can take to prepare myself.
Preparing for my future career
To the students who don’t know exactly what they want to do, or to those of you who are looking for positions directly related to their prospective career, I’d recommend applying for Work Learn. It allows you to develop skills (sometimes even without realizing) that will benefit you in any future career.
