▲ A photo taken on the descent from Seongsan Sunrise Peak (Source: Provided by General Students’ Association)

The ‘2024 Summer Vacation Project: Walking One Round of Jeju Island’ that the General Students’ Association managed, was successfully completed. This project, which involved the participation of approximately 70 students, took place from July 15 to 23, spanning 8 nights and 9 days. During this period, participants walked around various locations on Jeju Island, focusing on their improvements to their physical fitness and fostering team spirit. The students explored the scenic attractions, including four Olle Trails, the Yeongsil Trail on Mt.Hallasan, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, Cheonjiyeon Falls, the Jeju 4•3 Peace Park, and the Dochodol Alpaca Ranch, creating lasting memories along the way.

One of the students who participated in the project explained her motivation for joining, saying, “After the end of the first semester, while looking for a meaningful way to spend the vacation, I came across the recruitment post for ‘Walking One Round of Jeju Island’ on the General Students’ Association’s Instagram.” She also shared her experience, saying, “The moments that stood out the most are when we supported each other during tough times and shared light- hearted jokes by cooperating while walking together. She added, “I was worried because my physical fitness isn’t great and thought about giving up throughout the walk, however by focusing on ‘just a little bit more,’ I was able to finish without falling behind.” She concluded with a positive outlook, saying, “Even when I face moments where I will want to give up in the future, I believe that thinking ‘one more time’ or ‘just a little bit more’ will help me overcome any challenge.”

To learn more about ‘Walking One Round of Jeju Island,’ we conducted an interview with the General Students’ Association.

Q. Could you introduce yourself please?

Seo: Hello. I’m Seo Jeong- hyeon, the Secretary- General of the 40th General Students’ Association, majoring in the Department of Business Administration, Class of 2020.

Q. What was the background and objective behind planning the ‘Walking One Round the Jeju Island’ project?

Seo: I believe that everybody dreams of undertaking a journey trekking across the country, at least once. We wanted to provide students with the opportunity to experience that. Our goal was to help them feel a spirit of how to overcome a challenge and a sense of achievement.

Q. What was the most significant concern during the planning process for the project, and how did you address it?

Seo: Ensuring safety throughout the project was our top priority. We prepared thoroughly by conducting comprehensive safety training, arranging emergency vehicles, and providing regular water supplies. Advance teams were deployed to assess potential hazards along each course and communicated any issues via walkie- talkie. Fortunately, thanks to our thorough preparations, the entire journey proceeded without any problems.

Q. What was the response from the students who participated in the project? Were there any unexpected reactions or memorable episodes?

Seo: Unlike our concerns, the students’ satisfaction was extremely high. I believe that this was because the experience was new to everyone and provided opportunities for a sense of achievement every day. As a result, the team members also became much closer. One of the most memorable episodes was encountering three horses unexpectedly while climbing a narrow path. It was quite embarrassing at the moment, however with the help of our supervising teacher, we were able to continue the climb safely.

Q. Based on this success, are there any other large- scale projects or events that the General Students’ Association is planning for in the future?

Seo: Unfortunately, my term ends in December, so we have wrapped up the content that could be done during the vacation this year. However, we still have a major event in the second semester— the campus festival. We are preparing to make it more enjoyable than the cherry blossom festival named the ‘Spring’s Garden’ last April.

Q. Finally, is there any message you would like to share with the students?

Seo: As we prepare for every event, we are always thinking deeply about how to ensure that everyone enjoys themselves. We hope you enjoy the events as much as we have prepared them, and we would be grateful for your continued support and interest in the upcoming events, for both the General Students’ Association and the campus.

The efforts of the General Students’ Association bore fruit, all participants successfully completed the journey without any safety issues. Through this project, students embraced a challenging experience and achieved success, everyone who embarked on the long journey together overcame difficulties and strengthened their teamwork and bond. We hope to see the students of CWNU continue to discover their life’s direction and potential through diverse experiences and challenges and grow together as a community.

By Yoon Hye-won, cub-reporter  flipp1005@naver.com

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