The very core of my life
By jasmine Park April-5-2010
Jasmine Park during the high school graduation ceremony(center) taken by Kim hee
I have always had in my mind that anything is possible. I have always tried my best and never regret my past times. And, I know that my future will be the same as how I have done until now.
I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, where everything appears and vanishes fast. I was not a crying-baby when I was young; I used to tumble down but I did not cry much. But, my mother sometimes told me how I pressed her for toys; I lied down on the street until I finally got one.
After I got into the elementary school, and until the middle school, every year, I had been voted for a class president just because I had many friends and I was considered to be leadership-person. I remember how I felt hard when my close friends were making noise while I was assigned to write the names of ‘noisy people’ on the board by the teacher during her absent. I usually wrote every noisy people’s names on the board and reminded everyone to be quite; then, I erased all names when the teacher entered the classroom. I felt weighty responsibility though; I was able to enjoy what I can do for our class. If I was a class president, my class should always be the first one in everything.
That was what I had in my mind, so, I harshly pressured friends to try harder to win in studies, annual sport competition, and various extracurricular activities. Thankfully, I had many supportive friends besides me who were willing to participate in ‘my plan’. However, there were always some people not-cooperative, which lead me to realize how hard to be a leader of a group.
After I got into the high school, there had been many changes in my life. Under the ‘education boom’ in Korea, I was lucky enough to have a high-quality education in specialized high school. Entering Yang-Seo high school was so tough that only two including myself of my middle school were able to get in. I found myself in there. When I sit down and try to think about what my mottos at that time, I can remember that I really pushed myself hard to learn everything that I needed for my future, to become a world-wide leader. To become a great leader I thought I should be good in everything- from studies to plays; multiple-player. That was why I was so passionate to be in various organizations for taking pictures, dancing, and arts.
I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, where everything appears and vanishes fast. I was not a crying-baby when I was young; I used to tumble down but I did not cry much. But, my mother sometimes told me how I pressed her for toys; I lied down on the street until I finally got one.
After I got into the elementary school, and until the middle school, every year, I had been voted for a class president just because I had many friends and I was considered to be leadership-person. I remember how I felt hard when my close friends were making noise while I was assigned to write the names of ‘noisy people’ on the board by the teacher during her absent. I usually wrote every noisy people’s names on the board and reminded everyone to be quite; then, I erased all names when the teacher entered the classroom. I felt weighty responsibility though; I was able to enjoy what I can do for our class. If I was a class president, my class should always be the first one in everything.
That was what I had in my mind, so, I harshly pressured friends to try harder to win in studies, annual sport competition, and various extracurricular activities. Thankfully, I had many supportive friends besides me who were willing to participate in ‘my plan’. However, there were always some people not-cooperative, which lead me to realize how hard to be a leader of a group.
After I got into the high school, there had been many changes in my life. Under the ‘education boom’ in Korea, I was lucky enough to have a high-quality education in specialized high school. Entering Yang-Seo high school was so tough that only two including myself of my middle school were able to get in. I found myself in there. When I sit down and try to think about what my mottos at that time, I can remember that I really pushed myself hard to learn everything that I needed for my future, to become a world-wide leader. To become a great leader I thought I should be good in everything- from studies to plays; multiple-player. That was why I was so passionate to be in various organizations for taking pictures, dancing, and arts.
Jasmine Park (second to the left) with Filipino friends taken by Yu Ah Ra
But, at one moment, I felt like I am the frog in the well does not know the ocean. How can I become a world-wide leader if I do not know the world? I was quite proud of myself about my standing in the classroom and the school, but, I realized that there are more people that I need to compromise in this world. Maybe, I was somehow disappointed when I got result from national Math competition. Even I could do well in this school; it is not necessarily meaning that I could do well in the society and in the world. So, I had decided to take a leap and step forward.
I went to the Philippines for study; I considered it to be my baby step to a person in this fast-moving world. I probably had many difficulties adjusting myself into the new environment, and new people. And, I still found myself need for learning. I do not want to rush myself because I have always had in my mind that anything is possible if I try my best. And, I know that my future will be just like what I have dreamt about.
I went to the Philippines for study; I considered it to be my baby step to a person in this fast-moving world. I probably had many difficulties adjusting myself into the new environment, and new people. And, I still found myself need for learning. I do not want to rush myself because I have always had in my mind that anything is possible if I try my best. And, I know that my future will be just like what I have dreamt about.
