One of my favorite things about being a student at the University of Rochester is that everyone is so passionate about things they love to do and believe in. That is why the school has so many different clubs, ranging from the scholarly debate club to the fun and active Quidditch club. If you are interested in something, you can find a club for it, or you can easily make your own!
However, not all clubs are centered around interests or hobbies. At the University of Rochester, there are various multicultural clubs that center around a common culture and focus on sharing one’s culture with other students in the community. As a Korean student myself, I wanted to do something that allows me to share my passion for Korean culture with other students in a fun and creative way, which is why I joined the Korean American Students’ Association (KASA) at the University of Rochester.
As a freshman, I became the publicity chair for KASA and a part of the electoral board (e-board). The e-board for each club decides what kind of events to do for the school year and then plans them. There are many different positions in the e-board, such as the president, vice-president, student representative, etc., and if you’re ever interested in running for one of the positions, you can always email the club and ask when the elections are.
Being a part of the e-board for a club is a great way to meet new people and make friends who have common interests. For KASA, all of the e-board members become close to each other through weekly meetings and other e-board bonding events, and I have become friends with really great people along the way.
Being a part of the e-board for KASA can be, at times, a lot of work because we have to plan many events and some of the events are bigger than others. For example, KASA always plans Korea Week in spring, which is a week-long celebration of Korean culture through different events, such as a movie night and Korean food night at the dining hall.
The week ends with the biggest event of the entire year for KASA called “Korea Night,” which is basically a talent show that features taekwondo, dancing and singing to Korean music, a fashion show with hanbok, and even a play based on a Korean movie. It’s a fun-filled night where we are really able to share Korean culture with the school while also showcasing students’ talents. The event means a tremendous amount of planning for e-board, starting from booking a place months in advance and finding people who want to be in the show. But in the end, when we look at the final product and see how much fun everyone had, it’s all worth it.
So if you’re looking for a club to join at the University of Rochester, look at multicultural clubs too, and even try out for an e-board position! It’s a great way to meet new people and make unforgettable memories.