Reflective essay "They are always beside me"

They are always beside me

             Right before I came into this school, there was one unfortunate incident which struck me. It was about how I called a sunbae’s name. My informal way of calling female sunbae aroused resentment among the 15^th wavers and eventually I was branded as an inappropriate 16^th waver. My intention was to become closer with sunbaes, but my intention was grossly misinterpreted.

             Even after I entered the school, my reputation was at an all time low. I tried to overcome the situation which was very bewildering for me, but it was never easy. It seemed to me that there was nobody to stay by my side. I felt I was all alone and excluded. I even worried about whether I could continue on a decent school life. However, as time passed by, some sunbaes started to open up their minds. They started to approach me, and care for me. They gave respect to me and I gave my sincere respect to them. Such mutual interaction of respect continued and my life became much smoother than before.

             Yesterday, I was deeply touched by a sincere letter written by one sunbae from English Debate Society. She was the one who was mostly related to the unfortunate incident last winter. The letter was about how she has opened up her mind towards me. The letter went on and talked about what she has learned from me, my strengths, and weaknesses and so on. This considerate and thorough content of the letter made me smile dimly, because it was a indication of how a person started to care about me.

             Even today, after the prelims in Korea for World Individuals Debating and Public Speaking Championship next year, I didn’t feel good. Although I did my best to smile, and become positive, I couldn’t help myself lose some confidence that I cherished so much. I was really frustrated about the inability and lethargy of myself. I gazed out the window dully while I headed towards the dorm. At that moment, a text message from another sunbae from the English Debate Society came. In the text, sunbae encouraged me to do better and gave great consolation for my shaking soul. I was able to maintain my composure and positive spirit owing to that touching message. A few sentences can make a big difference.

             In the beginning of the semester, I was pretty much afraid and cautious about the entire unfamiliar environment all around me. Teachers, sunbaes, and even friends seemed to antagonize me. But now, I stand firm and feel great pride going to this wonderful school, KMLA. I am no longer afraid of facing hardships because there are lovely people who are always beside me, ready to get rid of the obstacles that hinder my path towards my future. I love my friends, teachers, and sunbaes in my school sincerely and genuinely.

Writing about TED "Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food"

             Cases of homicide, murder, and death are always on the front page of every paper. We spend our lives being zealous and paranoid about death, murder, homicide, you name it. However, many people are indifferent about how food has taken away the lives of millions of people and will incessantly kill people.

             Sadly, in the next 5 minutes, several people who were once alive will be dead from the food that they eat. Look at homicide, for God's sake. It only makes up 5% percent of the total death in a year. On the other hand, diet-related disease makes up almost 40% of the total death and definitely is the biggest killer in countries such as United States, right now, here today. Mexico, Australia, Germany, India, China, all have innumerable problems of obesity and bad health. This is a global problem. It's a catastrophe. It's sweeping the world.

             Think about a female colleague who lives next door who got only got six years to live because of the food that she's eaten. Think about Justin, 12 years old, who has already gained 350 pounds. He is bullied in school, for God's sake. Imagine a girl, Maria, crying over her father who died in her arms because of obesity-related disease. And then the second-most-important man in her life, her uncle, died of obesity. You see, the thing is obesity and diet-related disease doesn't just hurt the people that have it; it's all of their friends, families, brothers, sisters.

             But the thing is children don’t even know what kind of food there are aside from fast food. When we ask children about healthy foods such as onions, potatoes, and so on, they can’t even differentiate these foods from each other. That is, they don't have any kind of discernment regarding food. This is what happens right now. When I point to an onion and ask Sally what this is, she’ll probably say, “It’s a lettuce!” Immediately you get a really clear sense of do the kids know anything about where food comes from. If the kids don't know what stuff is, then they'd never eat it. This is inevitable, especially in Western Europe and the United States. We've got to start teaching our kids about food in schools, exclamation mark.

             And these are the reasons why I came here to start a food revolution that I so much believe in. This is exactly the tipping-point moment. Now is the time when it's ripe. The good news is that deaths due to obesity are very preventable. So what are the solutions?

             Let’s begin with supermarkets and fast food companies. Supermarkets need to show us how to cook, quick, tasty, seasonal meals for people that are busy. This is not expensive. It is done in some. The big brands, you know, the food brands, need to put food education at the heart of their businesses. It's the only way. Also, labeling is a massive problem. The labeling in this country is a blasphemy. How can you say something is low-fat when it's full of so much sugar? Labeling, I said earlier, is an absolute farce, and has got to be sorted.

             Next, moving on to fast food companies and governments. Fast food companies are very competitive. Basically they've weaned us on to these hits of sugar, salt and fat. And everyone loves them. So, these guys are going to be part of the solution. But we need to get the government to work with all of the fast food purveyors and the restaurant industry. And over a long time span, governments should definitely reduce the extreme amounts of fat, sugar, fat and all the other non-food ingredients.

             Thirdly, let's think about schools and workplaces. Obviously in schools we owe it to them to make sure those 190 days of the year, they need to be cooked proper fresh food from local growers on site. There needs to be a new and lucid standard of fresh proper food for your children and my friends.  School food is something that most kids, 31 million a day in the U.S for example, have twice a day, more than often, breakfast and lunch, 190 days of the year. So you could say that school food is quite relevant, really, judging the circumstances. That is why schools need to ameliorate the quality of foods. Of course, additives and seasonings are appeasing to the tongue. However, if schools really care for their children and students, they need to instigate action for the enhancement of school foods. The workplace. It's high time for corporate responsibility to really look at what they feed or make available to their staff. The staffs are the moms and dads of friends as well.

             Next, think about households. Households should definitely teach their children about healthy foods and healthy cooking. It's profoundly important that every single child in the world learn how to cook recipes that will save their life. The home needs to start passing on cooking again, for sure. Before, cooking at home was considered to be a philosophy. Home is where it used to be the heart of passing on food and food culture, what made our society coalesce into one. But look at what's happening now. That isn't happening anymore. The only thing we hear from modern day people is "Do it faster! Faster!". This flagrant culture stems from the appearance of fast foods. We should change the current situation.

              I truly believe that if changes can be made in this country, beautiful things will happen around the world. I have a dream. My dream is for people to help a strong sustainable movement to educate every child about food, to inspire families to cook again, and to empower people everywhere to fight obesity. Let us now abandon the hedonistic eating habits and accept healthy ones. Let us imagine the happy faces of our blithe children. Let us escape from the apathy we once had towards our healthy foods. In 10 years time, the history of my friends and your children’s happiness will look different.

Review of a song "Western Sky"

[Above is the remade version of the "Western Sky" sung by Ul-La-La-Session in the music audition program SuperStarK3]

One of the best Korean ballad singers, Lee Seung-Cheol drives you to a world of deep love and yearning.

This is one talented individual who has written, produced and sung “Western sky” to make it one of the more interesting songs that were released in 2005. Lee Seung-Cheol, who won the Golden Disk Award for the best ballad of the year in 2009, is known for his elegant and refined voice. His appealing ability to emotions is powerful enough to attract the audiences.

This song is the original sound track of the movie “Blue swallow”. Blue swallow is about the first Korean female pilot who inevitably has to give up her love to achieve her dreams. The song “western sky” is much more touching especially when you listen to the song while you watch the movie at the same time.
Moreover, “western sky” has become a hot issue among many music fans. It is because a music group called “Ul-La-La-Session” has decently remade this song in Superstar K3, a famous music audition program.
But for all the impressive comments and attention towards this song, Lee Seung-Cheol ultimately fails to warm out winter hearts. Why is that? First, his pronunciation is not clear enough to convey the dramatic emotion all music listeners are yearning for. “Western Sky” is a great song in itself, but has its limitations. Second, the flow of the song doesn’t have any dramatic components. A good song with powerful influence needs to have four steps.

3 Words describing myself (Mr. Moon's Class)

Like a delicate dove hovering in sky, I continuously fly to the end of the world. I test my limitations by accepting new challenges. Rain pours and slaps my face. Happiness and solitude exist at the same time. Sweet whispers from devils entice me to the end of the cliff. However, I cling on to the last branch of a tree. The delicate feather of imagination and creativity engenders me to the utmost extent.

Metafiction ver.2

True love never came

My heart was still pounding. I couldn't believe she sat next to me. I couldn't concentrate on the movie. All I could feel was the warmth and equanimity from my dear Bess. After an hour or two, it was time for all the camping students to leave the theater.

 We drove to the campsite where we slept and ate during the camp. I looked at the glowing sun descending out of sight. I could see Bess’s delicate face in front of me as if she was right in front me. (In class chain writing ends)

 Yes, my love story started a very long time ago. Bess was a girl who was always to pleasant to be with. She had shining eyes and rosy cheeks. Her smile mesmerized me and made me unable to pay attention to my classes. She was even a well-behaved student who was loved by all the teachers in the school. On the other hand, I was just an insignificant small boy who basically sucked at everything.

 I looked through some books and realized that the only way to achieve the love of a girl was to improve my self-confidence. From that day on, I started to do my best on everything. My English Teacher, Mrs. Garrioch, was bewildered by my sudden active participation in class. “John, what’s the matter? You have become a new man!”

“It’s the power of love, Mrs. Garrioch.”

“See? I’ve told you. If you start to love a subject, you are going to excel at it.”

I thought by myself, ‘That’s not what I meant, hehe’

 Several months have passed by, and there were a lot of changes in my life. I came to become a renowned person in the school, known for integrity and diligence. There were also changes in relationship with my friends, luckily, with Bess. I realized how similar we have been and how good a friend we could have been.

 One day, both of us were walking down the road together after school. It was very dark outside, and only the moon lit the roads dimly. Bess gazed at the moon for a moment, and a drop of tear started to roll down her face.

“What’s the matter, Bess? Is there anything wrong?”

“No...”

“Then...?”

“The moon just reminded of my dead father...

“Wow...It seems to me that we have so many similarities with each other.”

“Why is that?”

“My father...my beloved father also passed away several years ago.” John smiled dimly while he spoke.

“Well, my father was such a good person. Would you like to hear my story?”

“I would love to”

I grew up in a small time called Creekville in Cincinnati, Ohio. My father used to work in the military and often times, he got wounded severely.

The financial situation of our family was not decent at that time. The meager wage my father receives from the military was never enough to feed all our family members. My mom spent most of the day lamenting her poor existence. But things got worse...

My father...my beloved father passed away during the military conflict in Afghanistan. After that, my two brothers, Bill and Tom had to stop going to high school and college. They needed to earn some living to sustain our family.

My eyes glistened with tears and I spoke up. “Bess, I know how it feels like to live in family with no father. I have gone through exactly the same experience as you. I know how sorrowful it is to live without a father...”

I embraced her into his arms and smiled. “Do your best in life. And God will reward you for it. Also, I believe being loyal to your life is what your father in heaven wants.”

After several months of dating, both of us got to know each other very well. We found out that we had similar backgrounds, viewpoints and values. I thought that she would make a great wife for me.

On a peaceful and bright Sunday morning, I waited for Bess in the bench. The weather was extremely suitable for sweet words and especially a confession of love. I have decided to confess my love towards Bess and start a new life. I didn’t have a father during my childhood and therefore somewhat lacked love. However, Bess was the one who could embrace my inner scars in my mind and who could give me love. And I was willing and ready to give my love towards Bess.

Bess appeared, smiling like a full blown rose.

“John! It has been so long since I saw you!”

“Yes, indeed! And you look happier than when I last saw you.”

“I guess it’s because of the warm and cozy weather!”

We walked around the park, full of decent and beautiful flowers which were showing off their delicacy. Then, I spoke up.

“Bess, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“You have been such a good friend to me. You were always beside me, encouraging me for every small incident that happened to me. If it were not for your help, I would not have been able to lead a happy life until now.”

“That applies equally to me, John!”

I inhaled my deep breath with a momentum. There was several seconds of silence and then I grabbed her hand gently.

“And I want you to become more than a good friend of mine. I’ve realized that my love and affection towards you are incontrollable. Would you please marry me?”

“I was waiting for this moment, John!” She cried with happiness, with happy tears in her eyes.

However, when I tried to put the ring into her, a thunderbolt shaped scar was on her fourth finger. The ring slipped from my hands helplessly, and I fell to the ground.

“John, what’s the matter?”

My sight started to become blurry, and I was almost on the verge of throwing up. I ran to the opposite direction as fast as I could. I didn’t know where I was going nor did I know what I was doing. I could her Bess’s bewildered voice from behind but nothing could stop me.

When I regained composure, I realized I was in front of the Henry Catholic Church. Tears started to roll down my cheeks. My father’s words, once again, came up to my mind.

‘John, if you ever meet a woman who has a thunderbolt shaped scar on her body, she is your half-blooded sister. Treat her well and do your best to care for her.’

I howled with pain and sorrow.

‘God! What aren’t you allowing me to achieve the true love I was looking for? I had lead a unhappy childhood and I deserve to receive love from a person I truly confide in! Why? Why...”

But the only thing that remained now was the sound of my agonized voice, reverberating in silence.

2011/11/02 Minjok Herald Writing

Reforming the sleeping overnight system

A long way to go

By 16^th waver Kim Seung-Jun

             Sung Hun-Jae teacher, head of student management, gave an important announcement about the change in policy next year regarding the sleeping overnight system during the morning assembly in the gymnasium. He warned that indulgence of some of the students is harming the true meaning of student autonomy.

             Sleeping overnight system is one of the things that best characterizes Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (KMLA). Unlike other ordinary high schools, students in KMLA are allowed to engage in various activities during the weekend from volunteer work to eating out. Of course, this system was created to encourage student autonomy and based on the premise that all students are going to take responsibility to their actions.

             Unfortunately, many students have misused this system. They took advantage of the loopholes in the sleeping overnight system and pursued their own pleasure at the expense of student autonomy. For example, some students signed up for returning home during weekends in order to miss honjeong and shinsung. Even several months ago, these irresponsible actions were found out by the school dorm parent, Kim Dae-Gi teacher.

             As a result, the assembly of teachers made the decision to reinforce the system by applying more stringent rules. It decided to make the parents, not students, to sign up for the returning home during the weekend when there is a need. Also, it reduced the number of times students can go out of school to only once a month. Although the change in policy is expected to at least prevent indulgent trickery of students, some problems come up on the table.

             First, student activity is significantly restricted. Extra-curricular activities make up a large part of the life in KMLA. They enrich the lives of students by providing motivation and novel experience for students. Most of the students engage in such activities such as volunteer work, competition and so on during the weekend. However, because of this change in policy, students will be forced to look at their dull books even in weekends and deprived of the chance to get an outside experience that is unattainable inside school.

             Next, the reinforcement of the policy is expected to contribute to the growing vicious cycle of distrust between the teachers and the students. The prerequisite for successful student autonomy is mutual belief and cooperation with the teachers. Sadly, the conflict between the students and teachers is on a stalemate and is not expected to come to an end soon. It’s because no side is willing to step back and concede to the opposition. On one side of the debate, students claim that just because some of the students violated the rules doesn’t justify sudden drastic changes in policy without consent. On the other side, teachers assert that students who don’t even abide by their responsibilities don’t deserve to be a global leader and thus need rigorous measures.

             Nobody knows what kind of impact this change in system will have in the future. Currently, many students are displaying negative reactions and the conflict with the teachers is not expected to wane soon. However, one thing that is evident is that unless trust, cooperation and responsibility are present, we can’t achieve true student autocracy. Let us genuinely believe in what this school stands for: student republic with responsibility.

2011/10/3 Minjok Herald Writing

Sudden Attack

By Seung Jun Kim

 Within the recent two weeks, many students from KMLA have already caught a cold and the number is rising rapidly. The reason why this negative phenomenon is spreading throughout KMLA is mainly because of the enormous daily temperature change and the inevitable characteristic of a boarding school. Let’s look more closely on what’s happening in KMLA.

 First, the temperature dropped drastically in a relatively short period of time. KMLA is situated in a relatively high elevation which makes the average temperature lower. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration center, the average temperature difference between areas in high elevation and ordinary places can be maximum eight degrees Celsius. This means that the weather can be modestly warm during the day but relatively cold in the evening. In fact, the daily temperature difference was a whooping ten degrees Celsius while the average was about six in other areas. This sudden change in weather made the students in KMLA more vulnerable to cold viruses because human body can’t all of a sudden adapt to a drastic change in environment.

 Next, the inevitable trait of a boarding school created an easier environment for viruses to infect students. In a boarding school, students have to spend the whole day with their friends in the dormitory, classroom and so on. The contagion of virus happens in this incessant physical contact among students.

 Why did this become an issue although cold is a very banal subject to bear any significance? It’s because the mid-term is only about a week away. In a period where concentration and time-management are required, cold is preventing many students from effectively preparing for their exams. A 16^th waver, Tae Hyun Kim shared his bitter experience of getting a cold a week ago. “My quiz scores significantly dropped”, he said, “I wasn’t able to concentrate in class nor was I able to study well during extra hours. I’m worried about my mid-term.” Unfortunately, more students are expected to be infected due to the patients around them. It is high time for students to be alert and take good care of their health.

Reflective mini essay about Kim Ki Duk's film (spring)

 Although we didn’t watch the whole film, the first part, spring itself was pretty impressive. I guess it’s because the film allowed me to reminisce about my happy childhood years. I especially felt a sense of similarity with the little boy who has a pure and innocent heart. I would like to introduce my two childhood experiences which enabled me to become a better man in intellect and virtue.

             When I used to be young, I was given many chances to have new experiences. It was partly because my parents encouraged new challenges. My mom used to tell me, “Memorizing one more mathematics formula on your desk doesn’t change anything, dear”. She continued, “Rather, I want you to embrace the world and escape from the provincial and bigoted way of thinking. I want you to become a bigger man”. Therefore, owing to my parents’ influence, I tried to do my best on everything I can. I read diverse books, went to the rural area for several months to learn farming, and learned all kinds of sports and so on. These kinds of extra activities during my childhood enabled me to have profounder view and ideas about social issues. Also, I was able to avoid the dull and hackneyed life of sitting on the chair all day long. I’m pretty sure the little kid will someday thank the monk for his benevolence. The benevolence I’m talking about here is the provision of various opportunities to experience new things.

             Moreover, I remember my mom using the eye for an eye approach to fix my problems. When I was in 7 years ago, perhaps, I had a bad habit of occasionally lying to my mom about my whereabouts. I used to hang out with my fellow friends and enjoyed snowball fighting and playing sports after school. As a little kid, I was not confident enough to tell my mom that I spent several hours with my friends playing. At this period of time, I thought studying was everything in life and deemed the rest of the activities as evil. I felt as if I had crossed the borderline of good and evil. That was why I, as little boy, had no choice but to tell my mom a lie about my whereabouts. However, my mom who is astute enough, managed to find out that I was lying. Since she was such a good actor, she acted as if she doesn’t know anything. But as days went by, I also noticed that she started to life about things. “Juny, I promise to buy you a present on your birthday”. The present never even arrived at our house. I started to doubt my mom, and I felt bad about how a person I confided in could constantly lie to me. Then, I suddenly realized that this lack of credibility between my mother and me was rooted to my own mistake, habitual lying. I felt contrite about my past deeds. The eye to an eye approach of my mom was certainly powerful.