Most students want to take part in some extracurricular activities like travel, volunteer work or cultural life when they start university events. From amongst the many activities available, I recommend university students do volunteer work. Some students do volunteer work during vacation or for shorter periods. However I think short-term volunteer work is insufficient to really make a difference. Social workers who educate volunteers emphasize that doing volunteer work continuously is the most important thing in being a volunteer. There are many kinds of volunteer works and university students can do most of them. But it takes at least six months for them to become expert in doing it and sympathize with people. So I advise you to do volunteer work with a long-run view when you start.
Many experts put an emphasis on volunteer work these days. That`s because volunteer work can produce valuable experience and relationships even though it isn`t motivated by altruistic dedication. Most university students choose an internship or a part-time job to acquire the experience that society requires. But volunteer work is different from internships or part-time jobs in the very concept of its work. In the case of volunteer work it is possible to perform creative activities according to the volunteer`s wishes. That`s why the corporate world and universities respect volunteering experience.
It is surprising that there are few volunteer activities in Korea, less than the worldwide average, given that Koreans have a strong sense of community culture. Although university students may have lots of stress about grades or employment, it is also true that they have much free time. So if you do volunteer work consistently during your university life, it will be a great help for your life experiences and career. I hope that you will begin and continue to do volunteer work.
Kim Ye-seul Editor-in-Chief
yeseul@uos.ac.kr