Kaydance Thomas
Outreach
On this page, you can find information about some of the extracurricular activities I have pursued outside of school hours. These activities showcase my involvement in Clemson related communities as well as my involvement in personal communities outside of Clemson. Therefore, this page allows me to share a little more of my personal side.
Clemson Conversation Pairs
Artistic Hobbies 2023-Present
Clemson Conversation pairs was something that I actively took part in during my first year as a student at Clemson University. This program paired up study abroad students with Clemson students to help welcome those from abroad to Clemson as well as help them with English or any questions about life in America. This program consisted of us pairs meeting one hour a week to talk about any topics we were interested in, our goal was to make our partner feel comfortable to freely converse, no matter their language proficiency. I had the amazing opportunity to partake in this program and make new connections. Thanks to my participation, I made a lifelong connection with the kindest student from Shri Lanka.
I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local Bon Dance festival in Greenville. This is an annual event that celebrates Japanese culture through performances like taiko drumming, kyudo, kendo, and traditional children’s festival games. The festival also featured an array of delicious Japanese food prepared by local vendors. During the two times I volunteered for this event I took on the role of being the cashier. Alongside being a cashier I was also responsibe for greeting guests, making them feel more welcomed.
K-Pop Photocard Trading
Bon Festival Volunteer 2023-2024
Outside of school, I like to spend my time indulging in DIY or art and craft projects. My most well-honed artistic skill is crocheting. I started self-teaching myself through various YouTube videos. After a couple of weeks of diligent practice, I was soon creating my own clothing accessories, room decor, stuffed animals and more. Not only can I create almost anything that comes to mind, but I also create many meaningful gifts for friends and family. While I may not capitalize on these gifts, seeing my hard work rewarded with the recipient's smile is more than enough. Now my artistic talent is not only limited to crochet but also extends to almost any project I deem possible. For example, I bedazzled the entirety of a K-Pop light stick in anticipation of an upcoming concert. I customized a pair of shoes to complete the 'perfect' outfit I had imagined. Below are some examples of my projects.
Another hobby I devote time to is what I like to compare to a small business. When I am not crocheting, watching TV, or partaking in another DIY project, I am almost always indulging in K-Pop photocard trading. K-pop photocard trading takes place in a small online community, and within it, fans of K-pop boy and girl groups are actively looking to trade current photo cards with someone who has a card they desire. The easiest way to integrate into this community is to create a photo card trading account on social media to market cards you are currently trading and post inquiries about cards you are hunting for. These fans are worldwide, so in many cases, when you organize and communicate a trade, the item will be shipped by mail. That is precisely why, within the photo card trading community, the only way to build a reputation for your platform was to archive your 'sent' and packaged photocards to your account so 'clients' can double-check your authenticity. Since most accounts are anonymous, trust from the 'clients' is not guaranteed, so maintaining my account helps me build my platform and create more connections with people from around the world. Since there are many unspoken rules and regulations within the K-pop photocard industry, I like to compare it to my little side business. Above are a few examples of photocards I have packaged and shipped.
