Tiny buds have begun to bloom on the thin branches of trees, which foreshadows the coming of spring. Spring arrives with a certain scent. Though four years have passed since I became a freshman, spring still reminds me of the fresh excitement I felt when I first entered university. Like many students who came to Pusan National University (PNU) from other regions, I was unfamiliar with everything as a freshman. Meanwhile, the campus that had closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, prevented me from actively participating in campus life or club activities.  And just like that, my first year of university passed aimlessly.

In 2023, when I became a sophomore and felt “stagnant,” I decided to join Channel PNU, the PNU media center. I wanted to pursue the profession of journalism, something I had been interested in since high school. At first, simply applying felt like a step closer to the career I had vaguely admired, and I even felt proud of myself for taking that step.

However, reality was not what I had imagined. Right from my first coverage, it was challenging. Interviewees weren't easily recruited, and even professors on campus wouldn't respond to interviews. Journalism knew no day or night. Despite being just a student journalist, I often had to interview renowned professors or report from crowded venues with over a thousand of attendees. At first, I felt awkward even pressing a shutter in a silent room. But my camera, press badge, and business card bearing the Channel PNU name gave me confidence. I still remember silently telling myself, “I am a journalist!” before conducting interviews. Through these experiences, I realized that courage and a sense of duty are essential qualities for a journalist.

An article that was written with blood, sweat and tears lifted my spirits. There was nothing more rewarding than having my hard work published, and oddly enough, the more difficult the reporting process, the greater the fulfillment. As a journalist in the reporting team, I wrote an article about government’s cuts to R&D (research and development) funding. To capture the voices of those affected, I interviewed key figures such as the president of the Korean Chemical Society, the student council of the College of Natural Sciences, and undergraduates aspiring to pursue graduate studies. It was a hectic and exhausting experience, but I had never felt such excitement before. I conveyed their voices through an article, to help readers to consider taking action—these things all contributed to shaping a new version of myself.

Although I haven’t definitively chosen journalism as my career, I am confident that my experience as a student journalist and editor-in-chief at Channel PNU will help me adapt quickly to any professions. Without this experience, would I have ever mustered the courage to email a professor? Would I have called a district office to inquire about a canceled event? Would I have attended a police conference as a journalist? These experiences have shaped me into someone who can remain resilient in any situation.

Earlier this year, a former editor-in-chief of Channel PNU started working at a marketing company. She told me his supervisor had remarked, “People who were journalists are extraordinary. Among the new employees, you’re the most proficient and good at business emails.” Now, navigating the challenges of being a new employee, she reassured me that every experience she had gained at Channel PNU is valuable and irreplaceable.

If you are wondering “What should I do?”—just as I did in my first year of university—or if you want to gain the courage to face new challenges, I highly recommend joining Channel PNU and diving in headfirst. Taking on challenges builds the strength to rise again in unfamiliar environments. Channel PNU will plant the seed of courage within you.

By Yoon Seo-Young, the Editor-in-Chief of The Hyowon Herald

Translated by Seo Yoo-Jung