/Cover Story/
A Fruitful, Pleasant Life at JBNU
Park Yang-geon Editor, Kim Ju Myeong & Choi Yoo-chan Reporters
Hello, JBNU readers! Did you have a nice vacation? As the new semester approaches, JBNU globe reporters were wondering how students were living and what kind of life at JBNU they were experiencing. We interviewed a few JBNU students in the hope that they will share their life with their fellow students and give some tips and advice. We will also introduce some that might benefit students’ JBNU life. First, let's look at some tips and honest opinions about some interviewed students’ lives.
We asked three JBNU upperclassmen about their freshman life, what kind of activities they did, and what they want to say to freshman.
Jeong Un-seong / Departmtent of Urban Engineering
2019 SK Sunny
2019 LG Dream Challenger
and five other external activities
2019 RC Eco Floor
2016, 2019 Student Mentoring
and three other campus activities
Lee Jae-yeon / Division of Mechanical Design Engineering
JBNU Press Editor
2018 Startup Club 'Leaders Factory'
2019 Summer 'Happy Move' (Vietnam Ninh Binh)
Yang Seo-yeon/ Department of Housing Environmental Design
2020 Departmental Student Representative
1. How was your freshman life?
Jeong: “When I first came to school, I tried to adapt and met many people. I hung out with my friends day and night, doing various things like club activities. I played games all day long, learned billiards, and enjoyed freedom. I set my goals not only on playing but also on traveling. Before I joined the army, I decided to travel to various places in Korea, and I went to fourteen places in fourteen months. The memories of working part-time to prepare travel expenses, saving for living expenses, and traveling once a month became unforgettable.”
Lee: I had been a departmental student representative when I first came to school. It was good knowing about my department and” getting to know “people in the same department deeply and” to become “friendly” with each other. “It was hard to withhold feeling responsible as a representative, but I enjoyed it. Also, I worked for JBNU Press and have made many experiences. Through this, I learned” about “many kinds of fields. Then, I participated in a start-up contest. I’m still doing activities that I did when I was a freshman.”
Yang: “When I was a freshman, I only took liberal arts” courses. “However, unlike high school, I could study what I wanted to. I joined my department club and had a lot of activities related to my department. Also, I often met with seniors and talked a lot. Through these experiences, I could understand the department better. My department fit me well and the atmosphere of my department was so good. So, I worked harder at school. In the early days at JBNU, studying for my first college exams, I was very exhausted. In addition, I was once depressed because I worried about my future career.”
In general, freshmen have little knowledge of university. So, they struggle to adapt to university and undergo a lot of trial and error. There are students who are good at adjusting to school and some students who have a hard life and don't like their school life. If you know how to get help from school, you can have a valuable freshmen life by using it. It is also good to listen to upperclassmen who have already experienced university life in order to make school life smarter. What kind of activities did these students do?
2. What activities were you involved in?
Jeong: “I did a lot of activities. First, I participated in the career camp for three days and two nights. It was very helpful. I was engaged in external activities conducted by a large companies such as LG, SK. Also, I had a corporate press activity. It was very helpful to talk to someone related to my career. I participated in “SK Sunny” program and went to Taean to teach students various subjects such as math and English and building. I focused on external activities, I had direct experiences, and” participated in “corporate exploration in school. Also, I have been actively volunteering since being a freshman. I had job shadowing” opportunities “and corporate exploration through the JBNU programs.”
Lee: “Most activities” that I participated in “were working as a JBNU Press” member. “Covering” and writing for the “news was hard, but it brought me great experience and knowledge.” Also “with my interest with start-up businesses, I got ready for it and participated in a start-up business contest. Moreover, I searched for special lectures that” were “held in school. Those kinds of lectures were enough to get information that related to my dream. I think I did such activities until now.”
Yang: “First, I joined my department club and have been working in it until now. Through club activities, I was able to meet people from various departments and listen to the stories of senior students. It brought me many useful tips on JBNU life. Also, I tried and studied hard to get 3D program certificates, which are very important in my department. I planned external activities related to public relations and marketing, but I was unable to participate” in them “because of my lack of knowledge. However, I have been studying for this and planning to participate in foreign activities from next year.”
After listening to the students' stories, JBNU reporters have been looking for programs to recommend to JBNU students, especially freshman. The following are the programs investigated by reporters.
Belt System
First, you should know about one of the most important programs in our school, the “Belt System”. You can acquire a white belt to a black belt by building points and meeting certain qualifications. The qualifications include participation in career camps, writing a book report, volunteering, etc. Many students wish to acquire points because they can naturally gain experience and receive scholarships in this course. You can check the status of the points and qualifications in the Oasis portal system (https://all.jbnu.ac.kr/).
The Office of Career’s Program
The Office of Career provides career counseling and helps students to fill out job applications. This program is helpful for students who want to get a job because it holds briefing sessions of various companies and provides job experience opportunities. You can listen to special lectures of various career courses and career camps if you apply for the lectures. In addition, there are various programs related to businesses that students can participate in. These programs are associated with belt systems, so we recommend listening to them in student’s early years, especially during their freshman year.
The Institute for Education Innovation’s Program
The Institute for Education Innovation at JBNU is offering programs that will help those interested in writing or in academic advancement. They hold special lectures such as self-introduction, general writing, book reviews, as well as a book review and a reading discussion contest. The program not only holds contests, but also teaches students efficient ways to discuss and study. These are also associated with the belt system, therefore it also gives points.
Application of JBNU Library
The library is one of the most important places in college life. It is important to apply for a student ID on the library website to utilize the library. In addition, papers, academic information, and internet lectures are available on library website. Globe reporters wrote the details in the 63rd issue of The Geonji Report corner. If you are an international student, please refer to the new corner behind, the "JBNU International" corner.
External Activities
First, the “Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF)” is held once a year and is a great opportunity to become involved with. It is held from the last week of April to the second week of May in ‘Gaeksa’, a famous and popular area in Jeonju, which has easy access to campus. Moreover, you could apply to be a JIFF’s volunteer. The festival will start recruiting from late January to early March. If you want to make friends and participate in some special activities, we encourage you to join!
Next, there are many festivals in summer. One of them is the “Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival (JUMF)”. From noon to midnight, the singers and bands will be on stage. It will recruit volunteers, known as ‘jumpfie’. Additionally, the “Gamaek Festival” is held around the same time. In this festival, many people can enjoy Korean style snacks with beer that is brewed at the festival site. This festival also recruits volunteers called ‘Gamaekjigi’, starting in June.
Last, the “Jeonju International Sori Festival” is held in the first week of October, which is a famous festival for Korean traditional music. Many people can enjoy global music which is fused with Korean at the festival. It is held at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do near one of the school dormitories, so why not go there and enjoy it?
JBNU Language Education Center’s Lectures
Korean language courses for international students will be divided into classes one through six in consideration of the students' level of proficiency. Students can prepare for the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) by enrolling in listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar integration courses. The Korean language course will also offer various cultural experiences to enhance students’ understanding of Korea.
Courses for Korean and international students include TOEIC testing and foreign language conversation courses. Foreign language conversation courses offer English, along with Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German, French and Vietnamese, which were established this year. All courses are held at the New Silk Road Center. Students can take high-quality lectures at relatively low prices. JBNU Language Education Center also offers mock TOEIC testing. You can enjoy mock TOEIC tests at a low price of 8,000 won. It is held once a month, and students can receive it three days before the official TOEIC test.
Club Activities
JBNU has many clubs related to sports, religion, academia, volunteer work and performances. Students are free to join any club they desire. Through these clubs, students can enjoy their favorite activities with other students who have similar interests. The club activities will enhance enjoyment of your academic life. The clubs will promote the recruitment of new students during the first four days of the new semester in March and September. The clubs set up various booths on the way to the old gate and promote their club. Students can obtain information about the clubs they want through this promotion. Information about the clubs can also be found on the “Union of Students' Club” website.
3. What do you want to say to students who are worried about their career or university life?
Jeong: “I have many friends who are worried about their career path. So, do I. I hope students will fill their university life by using programs like career camps, career design classes and mentoring, provided by JBNU. I also hope you enjoy your university life without worrying about your future. Make your college life your style. For example, I love meeting people, and I tend to want to explore all over the country, so I participated in the national university student programs, which gave me a broader perspective. There are many ways that can help you reach your dream: student council activities, campus activities, external activities, or entering the lab, so look at your path in a wider point of view.”
Lee: “I recommend them (students) to try to make many experiences and keep trying everything. If you want” to try it, “if you’re curious, whatever. If the department where you’re in is not a fit with your interests and character, then, you could be confused with your circumstances and situations. But I think we don’t have to be scared of that. We’re just” in our “twenties. Try to know many things, and” trying “many activities will make you confident. If you’re scared to do such things alone, make friends who can cheer for” you and “each other.”
Yang: “First, pursue what you really like such as: external activities, JBNU programs, language lectures and departmental activities. Do something enjoyable and make a career plan based on it. And then, seriously consider whether to link your favorite things to a career or just think of them as a hobby. If you have a framework, plan what to do for your dream: certificates, foreign activities, language training, studying, part-time work, etc. Your will and passion are more important than others’ opinion. You have to live a contented life.”
In addition to what we have said, there are a lot of external activities and JBNU programs. Don't forget to read the JBNU notices frequently! Our reporters here at the JBNU Globe sincerely hope you have a rewarding JBNU life.