For many international students, their first experiences in Korea are often filled with excitement such as trying Korean food, exploring new cities, or making friends from around the world. For Thyara, an Indonesian student at KDI School, however, her most unforgettable first K-experience came from doing something she never imagined she would do: hiking to the summit of Mindungsan (민둥산).

Known for its breathtaking silver grass fields and panoramic views of the Taebaek Mountain Range, Mindungsan is a popular hiking destination in Gangwon Province. While the scenery attracted Thyara's attention, reaching the summit became much more than a sightseeing trip, it became a journey of courage, friendship, and personal growth.

At first, she had no intention of joining the trip.

"The main reason I decided to go to Mindungsan was because I saw a video on TikTok showing how beautiful it is, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity," she said. "However, because of my health condition, I was afraid that I would become a burden to my friends."

Instead of letting her worries stop her, her friends continued encouraging her. They promised to stay with her throughout the hike and reminded her that there was no need to rush. Wanting to understand her physical condition better, Thyara even prepared before the trip by practicing incline walking on a treadmill and sharing her progress with her friends so they would know what to expect.

Even with that preparation, nothing compared to the actual climb.

"The first 300 meters were the hardest," she recalled. "My heart rate reached 170 within just five minutes, so we had to stop and rest until it went back down."

Although her body gradually adjusted to the climb, another challenge remained.

"I felt guilty because my friends had to wait for me even though they could have reached the summit much earlier."

But instead of leaving her behind, three friends chose to stay with her until the very end.

One carried her backpack. Another lent her a smartwatch so she could monitor her heart rate. The third constantly checked on her, reminded her to drink water, and kept the atmosphere light by singing songs and sharing stories along the trail.

As they approached the summit, they continued encouraging her.

"See? You can do it. You made it to the summit, right? This is all because of your determination and persistence."

Looking back, however, Thyara believes the achievement belonged to all of them.

"If I had been alone, I probably would have given up during the first 300 meters," she said. "Their patience and kindness truly touched me."

When she finally reached the summit, the beautiful scenery was not what moved her the most.

"I secretly cried," she shared. "I felt overwhelmed by their kindness and support. Even after reaching the summit, it still felt like a dream."

Standing above the Taebaek Mountain Range, she realized that the most meaningful part of the journey was never simply reaching the top. It was experiencing genuine friendship and discovering that she was capable of more than she had believed.

As someone who likes to plan everything carefully, Thyara admitted that hiking Mindungsan had never been on her list of goals while studying in Korea. Yet it became one of the most memorable experiences of her time at KDI School.

"I learned that sometimes the best memories come from things we never planned," she said. "I discovered that I was capable of more than I thought, and I experienced the kindness and support of people who encouraged me throughout the journey."

The experience also changed the way she viewed friendships.

Before the hike, she often preferred traveling alone because she assumed group travel would be inconvenient. Sharing the challenges of the hike, however, brought her closer to the friends who climbed alongside her. Since then, they have continued making memories together through karaoke nights, meals, and even gym visits.

Reflecting on her experience, Thyara hopes her story will encourage future KDI School students to embrace opportunities outside their comfort zones instead of letting fear make decisions for them.

"Sometimes, we try to protect ourselves from getting hurt by doing everything alone and avoiding new experiences. However, don't let your assumptions prevent you from fully experiencing your life in Korea."

She believes that opening yourself to new places, new activities, and new friendships allows you to discover a side of yourself you never knew existed.

As her journey to Mindungsan showed, the experiences we are most hesitant to try often become the memories we cherish the longest and sometimes, the greatest view is not the one waiting at the summit, but the people who choose to climb beside us.