Dreams can be materialistic, monetary, or something intangible. For some, it may be a position, a salary, or a happy family. For me, I dream of freedom and creativity.  In grade school, the question “what are you most afraid of” often comes up in activities. Some of the classic answers children gave were; spiders, the dark, ghosts, clowns, bugs, etc. For me, it was always “doing the same thing everyday.” The thought of a repetitive lifestyle felt so mundane, if not, horrifying. Growing up with a mother who was active in the Korean Heritage Foundation, I consistently found myself assisting her during various events. My environment was constantly evolving and so were the responsibilities I was given. I never knew what task would be thrown at me next and it always kept me on the edge of my seat. This experience I gained from my mother quickly became the root for my passion for event planning. 

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                   At the beginning of covid, I joined my school’s Marketing Club and took on the role of VP of Networking. As VP of Networking, I was responsible for hosting two professional events per month. Throughout this experience, I was able to truly get hands-on experience in event planning. Whether it be professional email etiquette, creating a brief, organizing club schedules, or public speaking. All activities this role required me to do were extremely entertaining. Personally, I believe joining this club was the best thing I did in my college career so far. I truly enjoyed every aspect of it.

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                   For those who have also been part of behind the scenes during an event know by heart that planning an event is extremely challenging. There is a vast amount of organization and communication that goes on into gathering any vendors, speakers, and audience. The unusual aspect of event planning is the fact that one’s job does not simply come to an end once an event logistics has been fully developed. The real ultimatum to call an event “successful” comes from the feedback of the attendees. Managing activities behind the scenes to ensure an event goes smoothly can be highly stressful to many. You just never know when something unprecedented may occur. 

 

Some people fear the unknown.

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Me?

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I am attracted to the unknown.

 

                   There is a certain charm that events carry. The anxiety one gets while assisting speakers; the panic one feels when they are suddenly called in for a duty they were not prepared for. But what if we change those negative terms to positive ones such as “the butterflies one gets while assisting speakers, or the thrill one feels when they are suddenly called in for a duty they were not prepared for?” Facing the unforeseen circumstances and resolving it in a calm and collected manner gives me so much joy.

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                   Over the summer, I began working full-time at The Hanbok as a regular staff and also the Event Coordinator. Near the end of June, my manager took me to one of our customer’s wedding and Pyebaek ceremony with the goal of having me getting to experience the events first-hand. Upon arrival, my manager immediately noticed their designated Pyebaek emcee was extremely nervous and instructed me to emcee together. Though surprised at first, it was quite thrilling as I reviewed the script and divided the parts with the emcee. Fortunately, we were able to successfully emcee together and I received numerous positive feedbacks. While I am sure the stability came from good support, I am positive that my previous experiences in public speaking with the Korean Heritage Foundation, OMS Gallery, Marketers of Baruch, The Hanbok, and other activities played a great role in the speaker and problem solver that I am today. 

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                   I dream of change like these. The monochromatic lifestyle of working nine to five everyday in a tiny gray office cube is absolutely terrifying to me. I need something more; a creative outlet and room to breathe. How exciting is it to plan something different, change your viewpoint, or market to various demographics for every event? A nine to five office job with the same schedule everyday? No thank you. I aspire to do something new every single day and grow into a better me, for a better future.