The first community that welcomed me into Wesleyan as a freshman is the Korean Students Association (KSA). Coming from an ethnically diverse, with a particularly strong Korean American community, I had my qualms about finding a cultural home at Wesleyan, a PWI (predominantly white institution). Fortunately, through KSA, I met a group of seniors who invited me into their homes and gatherings. Each and every one of them was involved in various extracurricular activities in varying capacities at Wesleyan. Through them, I not only found community, but was able to experience and learn about Wesleyan from various perspectives. 

Because I felt I had been given so much, I felt the desire to give back to the community and assist my senior friends with the KSA. In the Spring of 2022, the KSA ambitiously organized the Korean Culture Festival. As I diligently assisted and proactively sought tasks, I admittedly was overwhelmed, but also overcome with fulfillment in sharing my culture with the greater community at Wesleyan. Organizing the festival consisted of the little things, from creating tickets and posters, to bigger things, such as coordinating the catering of Korean cuisine and performance groups. And in between, the KSA board and I promoted our event to other cultural affinity groups and the CEAS department. It was a success—we had professors and their families visit our festival and we even had passerbys stop by for the food. 

Task List for Wesleyan Korean Culture Festival 

  • Request funding 
    • CEAS department
    • Korean Embassy 
  • Create and Circulate Poster + Performance Program
    • Poetry / short story readings 
    • Wesleyan KDC
    • UConn KDC
    • Yale solo performances 
    • Korean Drumming Ensemble 
  • Instagram Post
  • Ticket Google Form
  • Ticket design or order online 
  • Wristband 
  • Confirm schedule with performers 
  • Dress rehearsal 
  • Program schedule 
  • Confirm sound system
  • Cast MCs
  • Volunteer shifts spreadsheet
  • Activities list (activity station) /Preparation
    • Yutnori 
    • Korean calligraphy 
    • Gonggi 
  • Invite/make list of faculty members
  • Invite Yale and UConn KSA and students 
  • Confirm catering food order
    • Seoul BBQ 

Passing the Torch

Once the seniors had graduated, they had passed the torch–it was time to step up and continue their legacy. The board and I, who were promoted to new roles and assumed greater responsibilities, felt the happy burden of organizing an even better and improved culture festival. That year, we wanted to expand the location and collaborate with UConn and Yale University for the event. Needless to say, this required more detail-oriented and tedious planning as well as flexibility in the face of the unexpected. As the Event Coordinator, I was responsible for booking the location, reaching out to performance groups, and filling out the necessary paperwork for permitting Korean food to be catered to Wesleyan. In addition to fulfilling my role, I adapted my abilities to assist my fellow board members with their tasks of designing posters, printing posters, advertising the event, and negotiating with catering companies. The festival that year was another success—various performers from UConn and Yale truly enjoyed Wesleyan’s company and we were given the feedback of being great hosts. 

Now, as a current senior and leader of the KSA, the burden to continue the tradition of a fruitful Culture Festival looms as well as the desire to leave behind a memorable and positive legacy for the underclassmen who will assume my position after I graduate. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that the past three years of being on the board of KSA has naturally refined my skills in planning these large-scale events alongside a dedicated team of fellow students.