The Reality of Korea's Student Life & Why I Needed a Break

If there’s one thing university life in Korea has taught me, it’s that hustle culture is real. Classes, assignments, club activities, part-time jobs, networking events and you name it, we do it. Somewhere between running to my next lecture and replying to endless KakaoTalk messages, I realized I hadn’t taken a proper moment to just… exist.

So when I came across the Youth Mind Therapy 1 month session under Amorepacific Empathy Foundation, I thought, Why not? A wellness program that promised to help students de-stress through tea, fragrance, and self-care routines? It sounded like the mental reset I desperately needed. Plus, let’s be honest, sometimes, we need an excuse to slow down, especially when society glorifies being "busy" 24/7.

I signed up, hoping to find some peace in my chaotic schedule. What I didn’t expect was to walk away with a completely new perspective on self-care and mental wellness. Little did I know, this wouldn’t be a one-time event, but a month-long journey of self-reflection.

Tea Therapy: More Than Just a Drink

At the beginning of the program, we each received a self-care book, something like a guided journal but with thought-provoking questions designed to make us reflect on our emotions, habits, and well-being. The program took place at the main office of Amorepacific, and I still remember how amazed I was by how aesthetic and modern the building looked. It felt like stepping into a space where beauty and wellness seamlessly merged. I was amazed on how pretty the building was. Every day, we had to answer these questions iside the self-care book while drinking our chosen 'Osulloc' tea that they have given to us.

The first challenge? Choosing a tea that matched our current emotional state.

Some teas were calming, some uplifting, others refreshing. Every morning, I’d sit down with my cup and think: What do I need today? Do I want something warm and soothing? Or do I need an energy boost? That simple act of choosing made me realize how often I ignore what I actually feel.

At first, writing in the self-care book felt a little… awkward. Who likes to sit down and analyze their emotions first thing in the morning? But as the days went on, it became a ritual I looked forward to.

One of the most memorable prompts was: "If there was a time machine, when do you want to return to?"

I remember pausing, my pen hovering over the page. Would I go back to a moment of happiness? A time I wanted to change? It was a simple question, yet it opened a floodgate of emotions.

Journaling: Talking to Myself (In the Best Way Possible)

Every day for a month, I filled out my self-care book. Some days, the prompts felt easy, like: "What made you smile today?" But other days, they hit harder: "If you met your past self from a year ago, what advice would you give them?"

That one made me pause. A year ago, I was more anxious, more unsure of myself. Writing to my past self made me realize how much I had grown, and that’s something we rarely take time to acknowledge.