[The Build] Needs

The Story of How I Accidentally Became the President of the Korean Students’ Association in St. Petersburg

In my last post, I talked about the value I pursue: ‘Good Influence’. Today, however, I want to share my experience of how that influence can begin from the most unexpected place — and from a deeply personal need.

[My College Days of Wanting to Have Fun]
To be perfectly honest, during my studies in Russia, I was just hungry for connection. My language skills were weak, and I found it difficult to connect deeply with local friends. I was lonely. I simply needed Korean friends to eat with, laugh with, and talk to.

Driven by my pure desire to just “hang out” during my college days, I started gathering a few Korean students. Initially, there were no grand ambitions. But as word of this small gathering spread, it soon became a community where nearly every Korean student in St. Petersburg came to enjoy themselves.

[The Unexpected Weight of Being “The Representative”]
All I wanted was a fun community, but the closer I got to them, the more they started bringing me real problems. Complex residency registration issues, urgent news delivery during the COVID-19 era, and even acting as a job board for part-time work. Eventually, this led to the official establishment of the ‘Korean Students’ Association’, connecting us with the Korean Association and the consulate.

The leader of a simple social club had unintentionally become the representative for the entire Korean student body, solving their problems. Although it happened by accident, it taught me that people needed a platform, and where there’s a platform, there will always be a supply and demand for problems and solutions. It was also the moment I learned that leadership isn’t born from a title you seek, but from the simple willingness to respond to the needs right in front of you.

Sometimes, the most unexpected needs are what push us to grow the most. I’d love to hear if any of you have had similar experiences!

To keep up with future articles, please check out the author’s blog. (Go to Substack)