SINCE COVID-19, many had to cancel their plans as safety measures were enforced worldwide. University students are known to live the most active and free lifestyles, and the 20s are referred to as the “time of their lives.” Yet, too many students have had to abandon those dreams. What then, will these students do once COVID-19 subsides? Where do the priorities of the students truly reside?

Jasmine Mok (Jr., UIC, Political Science & Int. Relations)

   “I imagine myself traveling around the world and enjoying the little things I used to take for granted. Traveling has always been a hobby of mine, and this year I had big plans to visit Europe, particularly Paris. The thought of having a picnic and enjoying some wine over a charcuterie board sounds like the perfect post-pandemic activity. The idea itself is enough to get me all tingly and excited!

   Besides that, I also miss the little things we took for granted. I cannot wait to go to a café, take a stroll down the park, and read by the beach without having to wear a mask. Most importantly, I am excited about attending gatherings, perhaps that yearly junk boat party that I have missed out on this year. The possibilities are truly endless. So, good luck getting ahold of me when this pandemic ends!”

Tyler Nguyen (Soph., UIC, International Studies)

   “I planned on travelling to different parts of Asia during the 2020 summer and winter breaks, but because of the travel restrictions, I had to cancel my plans. However, once COVID-19 is eradicated, I’d like to follow through with my travel plans, with my first stop being Vietnam. I have only been to Vietnam once and that was with my family, but now that I have made friends who live there, I’ll have them show me around the country this time. I would like to visit at least six other Asian countries in the year we’re free of COVID-19. The last stop of the trip would be Japan as I plan on getting a tattoo there inspired by the travels I had made throughout the year.”

Audrey Wardana (Jr., UIC, Comparative Lit. & Culture)

   “I would like to go back to my hometown and spend time with my family and friends. Due to some work that I needed to do this year, it was more convenient for me to stay here in Korea. The COVID-19 situation is also quite bad in Indonesia, which makes it difficult for me to return home. Although it is much better for me to stay here in Seoul, I am starting to grow homesick. Once this is all over, I’d really like to go home and see my family and friends. I’d like to have movie nights with my younger siblings again. Also, since my friends and I are all in different countries for college, every year, we planned to take road trips around our home country during the breaks. We would go on really long drives or go camping. It would be really great if we could go on those trips again.”

Jacob Hwang (Soph., Dept. of Applied Statistics)

   “I would like to run to my local basketball gym and play basketball with my friends. Basketball was a part of my life for many years; ever since I was a middle school student, playing basketball after quickly finishing my lunch was the best part of my school days. But due to the ban on large gatherings, it has been hard to find places to play basketball with my friends. I really miss the feeling of sweating it out and doing something that I'm deeply passionate about. I am also looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends when I play basketball. I will definitely place basketball as the number one thing on my to-do list after COVID-19 is over.”

Jo Seong-han (Fresh., Dept. of Mech. Engin.)

   “Before my high school graduation, our family made a promise that we would all travel to Jeju Island after my graduation. Unfortunately, due to the breakout of the COVID-19, we had no other choice but to delay our plans. The reason we chose Jeju Island among many other Korean tourist spots is because it has a special meaning to our family. The first time we travelled to Jeju Island was when I was around six years old. I still remember the feeling of the beach, the cold summer breeze wrapping around me and the sight of waves lingering over the horizon. The best part of the trip was the sunset we saw at the top of a mountain. The sky turned pink as the sun slowly immersed in the distant ocean. With all these sweet memories still clear in my mind, I have always yearned for a day where I could be at Jeju Island again.”

Kim Dae-sung (Soph., UIC, Dept. of Integrated Science & Engin. Div)

   “Experiencing dorm life in Songdo would’ve been awesome; it would be a thousand times better to study with peers in the library or a seminar room than studying alone in a stuffy room. After studying together, having chicken with beer would be the perfect way to end the day. Or, sometimes, I might go outside and drink until 1:55 a.m. and try to rush back to the dormitory before 2:00 a.m. I also need to finish the restaurant list I have made at the beginning of the semester. I plan to visit Son-sik-tang*, Uncle in the Kitchen, and other restaurants in Triple Street. This regular student life that I’ve only heard of appeals to me because I could not properly socialize in my own room. Besides this, I definitely want to drive to a huge waterpark with my friends, assuming the dawn of the post-corona era comes next summer. I want to go because I love the energy of the crowd there and the feeling of waves washing away my summer stress—ocean vibes!”

Cha Min-kyung (Jr., College of Communications)

   “While I do have a list of things I want to do, I think I would want to enjoy the freedom of going to places that were restricted during quarantine the most. Going to nice cafes and restaurants sounds good, but we are allowed to go there as long as we wear masks. However, watching a movie in an actual movie theater with different groups of people is something that couldn’t be easily done. I miss the feeling of being surrounded by people and listening to carefree laughter, since nowadays people are cautious of speaking to one another. I would also really like to get on a plane and travel to someplace new just for a change of scenery. Although thoughts of traveling and wandering around outside without a mask are exciting, I still think this quarantine period was meaningful in a way as well. It made me realize that nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, so being mentally prepared is paramount. I’m glad to spend so much time with my family during quarantine because before the pandemic; we were all busy with our own lives that we couldn’t spend a lot of time together. However, we now spend more time comforting each other and figured out a way to make the best out of this situation we’re stuck in. “

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From travel trips of self-exploration to unfulfilled plans with friends and family, COVID-19 has made us realize what we truly cherish in life.

*Son-sik-tang: A restaurant near the Yonsei Songdo campus