WHILE YONSEI students are united by shared experiences in classes and club activities, they come from a wide range of backgrounds that make them stand out. Different experiences, surroundings, and interests have helped shape Yonseians into the unique individuals they are today. Seeking to highlight the experiences of some students, The Yonsei Annals gave Yonseians disposable cameras to capture snapshots of a week in their time as university students. 

Georgia Swanson (Reporter, Photo Div., The Yonsei Annals)

   My life as an international student has been a slow journey towards confidence. In my first year and a half, I stayed in a safe bubble of acquainted international students and familiar settings I knew I could navigate. This semester, however, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and put more effort into joining clubs, applying to internships, and meeting new people. Though it has kept me busy, these experiences have been extremely rewarding. The photos I captured this week reflect the quiet moments of walking around my favorite areas and enjoying street art, spending time with my friends, and finally visiting some of the famous food places in Sinchon for the first time.

Lee Do-yeop (Soph., Dept. of Business Admin.)

   I spend a considerable amount of my time on club activities right now. As the vice-president of the debate club Yonsei Underwood Union (YUU), I have several responsibilities outside of my schoolwork. Thankfully, it is an enjoyable process that I get to enjoy the experience with my fellow YUU club members. After our last club session, we celebrated with sam-gyeop-sal barbeque with a sip of so-ju, and that was more than enough to compensate for all the preparatory work we had to do for upcoming meetings. Studying is also an important part of my university life; this semester has been enjoyable so far as it is my first time taking classes from my own major. Aside from spending time on schoolwork and related responsibilities, I like to catch a break by taking walks around Seoul. The photos I took this week represent a typical week in my life during the semester. 

Choi Ye-eun (Soph., UIC, Economics)

   As the spring semester is in full swing, I have been kept busy with schoolwork. To break away from my busy schedule, I went to Incheon with a friend to visit the Wol-mi Theme Park and eat good food. Though I was not able to take pictures of all the things I did in one week, it was a good opportunity for me to look back on my life and cherish meaningful moments within mundane patterns. These days there are so many things to be stressed about, but I hope everyone can take a step back from work and enjoy their present life.

Pascal Hogue (Jr., McGill Univ., Dept. of Political Science)

   Having spent the past few years in Montréal, Canada, a city with a fraction of the population of Seoul, I’m quite fascinated by the breadth and size of Seoul’s landscape. I love to observe the architecture and how people interact with their surrounding environment. Since I arrived in Korea a month ago as an exchange student at Yonsei, I've noticed that there is no distinct architectural style in Seoul—it’s rather an eclectic, chaotic combination of buildings that somehow work together and make this city what it is. I’ve tried to capture that essence in my explorations this week as I wandered the streets with no other intention than to enjoy the architectural landscape.