Kim and Seo walked through the university grounds, making their way from one club booth to the next. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the campus, while students from all walks of life bustled around them. The campus club fair was a vibrant kaleidoscope of personalities and interests, but to Kim, it was also a microcosm of something much deeper: the subtle, often unspoken divisions that ran through the student body.
Their first stop was the Daydreaming Club, a place for students to unwind, chat about their favorite daydreams, or share creative writing. The booth, decorated with posters of whimsical clouds and abstract art, immediately drew attention. The students gathered there wore comfortable clothing and seemed to float in a world of their own. Kim couldn’t help but chuckle at the carefree atmosphere, but deep down, he felt it wasn’t the kind of escape he was looking for.
“That club is all fluff,” Seo said with a grin as they left the booth behind. “You’ll never catch me in there.” Kim laughed along with him, relieved that Seo had spoken his mind, but as they continued to explore, he realized that the more serious clubs were also tinged with a sense of exclusivity.
Next, they stopped by the Food Club, a group of passionate culinary enthusiasts dedicated to cooking, tasting, and discussing food. The table was covered with samples—homemade pastries, savory dishes, and exotic snacks. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the scent of spices and herbs filling the air. Seo grabbed a pastry and bit into it, nodding approvingly. "Now this, I could get into," he mused, before turning to Kim with a playful look. "Not your thing though, huh?"
Kim shrugged. He could appreciate the passion of the Food Club members, but he wasn’t particularly drawn to the idea of spending hours discussing the fine details of food. He glanced around, sensing the strong presence of wealth. Many of the members were dressed in high-end clothing, their appearance pristine and polished. The club seemed more like a hobby for those with the means to indulge in such luxuries, and Kim couldn’t help but wonder how many of the students here had a genuine love for food as opposed to a love for the status that came with being part of an elite group.
Seo caught his thoughtful expression and nudged him lightly. “I get it. But hey, not everything here is like that. There’s something for everyone. We just need to keep looking.”
As they continued their exploration, Seo explained the underlying dynamics at play within the university’s social structure. “It’s all about who you know and what your family’s worth,” he said, his tone shifting from playful to more serious. “The rich kids, they have their own set of rules. Even within their circles, the wealthier families set the tone. You see that with the clubs—they don’t just join for fun, they join for the status. It’s a way of keeping track of who’s ‘in.’” Seo paused, scanning the crowd as if searching for proof of his theory. “Middle-class students like us? We’re kind of… outsiders. Sure, we get in, but we don’t have the same advantages.”
Kim listened intently, surprised by the depth of Seo’s insight. He had always been aware of the disparities between the rich and the poor, but this internal division among the wealthy was something new. It felt like the campus was built upon a series of invisible lines that determined one’s value long before their academic or personal accomplishments were considered. The realization stung.
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“I thought it was bad enough just being a scholarship student,” Kim murmured, “but now it seems like even the rich have their own pecking order.”
Seo shrugged. “Yeah, it’s like a game with ever-shifting rules. You just have to figure out where you fit, and make sure you don’t get caught on the wrong side of things.” He flashed Kim a grin. “It’s not all bad though. We might not be rich, but we’ve got something they don’t have—resilience.”
Kim nodded, grateful for his friend’s optimism. It wasn’t easy to navigate this new environment, but with Seo’s company, he felt a little more equipped to face the challenges ahead.
After stopping at a few more clubs—some more frivolous, others more academic—they arrived at a booth that stood out from the rest. The Astronomy Club had no grand banners or flashy props. Instead, the table was simple, adorned with a few star maps and a telescope perched at the side. The students at the booth were calm, quietly discussing the night sky and upcoming events. Kim felt an immediate sense of calm as he approached the booth, a stark contrast to the bustling energy around him.
At the helm of the booth stood Jang Hyun-woo, a senior who exuded a quiet charisma. His easy smile and warm handshake immediately put Kim at ease. Seo introduced Kim, and Hyun-woo invited them to an upcoming stargazing event, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the club.
“We welcome everyone—rich or scholarship students. The sky doesn’t care about your background, and neither do we,” Hyun-woo explained. “It’s all about curiosity, learning, and sharing our passion for the stars.”
Kim felt a spark of something he hadn’t felt all day: hope. Here was a club that wasn’t about status, wealth, or social circles—it was about a shared interest. Hyun-woo’s words resonated with Kim, and for the first time since arriving at the university, he felt like he might actually belong somewhere. The Astronomy Club wasn’t about superficial ties; it was about a genuine connection through a shared passion.
As they spoke further, Kim could sense the sincerity in Hyun-woo’s voice, and he could see that the club members were not just participating for the sake of socializing or building connections—they were there to explore the universe, to challenge themselves and their understanding of the cosmos. It was a group for those who sought knowledge and connection, not status.
Kim turned to Seo, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I think this is the one,” he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction.
Seo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Kim’s change in tone. “Really? Astronomy, huh? That’s a big shift from the Food Club.”
Kim chuckled, nodding. “It’s more than just about the stars. It’s about being part of something where I don’t feel like I’m just a scholarship student or someone from the outside. It’s about being seen for who I am, not where I come from.”
Seo smiled, offering his friend a knowing glance. “You’re right, man. It’s about time you found a place where you belong.”
The two friends signed up for the Astronomy Club, marking a turning point in Kim’s journey. As they left the booth, Kim couldn’t help but reflect on the diversity of the clubs they had explored and the social dynamics that underpinned the university’s culture. The divisions were real, but the Astronomy Club had shown him that there were still spaces where he could carve out his own place—where his worth wasn’t determined by his background, but by his passion and his drive.
As they walked away from the bustling club fair, Seo joked about their prospects of finding a club worth committing to, but Kim didn’t mind. He had already found his place.