TODAY

“Travelling alone trains you to become independent and helps shape who you are and your life goals.”

An example of today’s globally-minded student

Young Tae Lim

IN 2012, YOUNG TAE LIM found a desire to step outside his comfort zone when he cycled across South Korea, beginning in his hometown, Seoul, and ending up on Jeju Island. Normally a 10-hour drive, Young decided to go on this 16-day bike trip with no resources other than his phone.

“I was being spontaneous,” says Young. “I had never gone on vacation before and I thought it would be a short trip, but it turned out to be a journey.”

Young covered close to 1,600 kilometers (about 85 hours) by the end of the trip, and though he was physically exhausted, it was a life-changing moment.

“Travelling alone trains you to become independent and helps shape who you are and your life goals,” he says. “After my trip, I knew I wanted to see more of the world.”

In 2014, Young travelled even further, enrolling into the ESL program at the ILSC Language School in Toronto. He was motivated to choose Canada over the United States or the Philippines because Canadians are known for their kindness and diversity. He appreciates how people from all different nationalities are accepted without discrimination.

In Korea, Young had begun a degree program, but was unable to complete it. However, a pathway option through the ILSC Language School provided him with an alternative: the Flight Services (FLS) program at Seneca. Wrapping up his last semester, Young says his fondest memory from the program was a two-month internship at Mpekweni Beach Hotel in Zulu Nyala in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“It was on my bucket list of places to visit,” he says. “I was surprised by the amount of diversity and communities joined together.”

While at Seneca, Young has been a student ambassador, helping international students with campus residency and tours, applying for visas and social events. He’s currently learning three new languages: Japanese, Mandarin and French. He was inspired by the FLS program to broaden his communication skills and pick up on cultural cues.

“As a flight attendant, it’s important to be bilingual or trilingual because you’re dealing with passengers from all over the world who practise different etiquettes and political correctness,” says Young. “You may come across a lot of situations that should be handled with sensitivity.”

For the future, Young has his eyes set on working for WestJet or teaching English in Seoul, and using it as a gateway to travel.

“If I do return to Korea, I want to encourage students to explore beyond mono-culturalism” he says. “It’s necessary for their personal development and career choices.”