The CAS project that I organized was to make a fan-made advertisement that promotes Aesther’s 1st debut anniversary. As I didn’t have the money to publish an advertisement in the subway, I used a method I learned in my business management class: crowdfunding. I planned to manage crowdfunding by using spreadsheets that synced with the crowdfunding website. Through this process, I was able to apply the theories I learned in real life, and it was an opportunity to put learning into practice, especially in areas such as fund planning, public persuasion strategies, and SNS promotion methods.

As I am staying in Thailand, I couldn’t conduct a direct survey on the location of subway advertisements or the floating population in Korea. So, I asked my fans in Korea for help to investigate the locations of advertisements, produce promotional materials for the project through SNS, and collaborate with fans to decide on illustration design and phrasing. This made me feel the importance of collaboration and communication once again, beyond just individual projects.

However, something unexpected happened. Two months before the advertisement was posted, my favorite member of Aesther left the group when he terminated his contract with the agency. At first, I was frustrated and felt it was unfair, but this time, I finished the project to fulfill my responsibilities to the end, even though I would have given up on the spot if I had been a child. Although I was criticized for no reason via email during the process, this project remained a valuable experience. It was very meaningful in that I was able to share my feelings with people and grow in a way I couldn’t beyond just being a fan.

Through this CAS project, I learned that I can think creatively, develop practical execution skills, and solve problems with responsibility even in unexpected situations. Regardless of the challenges I may face in the future, this experience will be a great asset.