[에세이] Essay

[성남]

KIM SEONG NAM

Essay Writing 4

Brian Fair

May 27, 2009

A Man's Dream Makes Men Dream

  On the first day of New Year I met some friends for celebrating on the new year and talked about our lives in a bar. While we were talking about the previous year's our experience, all of sudden, one of them who had hired recently at STX company introduced us about the book titled 'The Last Lecture' the company had encouraged to their staffs to read. He said it was the story coming true childhood dreams. At that time, I was confused about my life and wanted to have different experience. Therefore, I decided to purchase and read it. After few days, I did so. The Last Lecture was written by Randy Pausch, who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon and lived out of his dreams. Randy, whose his three young children and a woman of his dream he married to, gave this lecture to inform his children who were too young to remember the time with him about his own life and teach them how to lead theirs after his death. When he came true his childhood dreams, it was sometimes hard to continue dreaming something he wished to be or have, especially when he went to university his admission was rejected because he had lower score. Thus, nobody thought he would be a good student except his uncle and family, but he got phD in computer and eventually became a professor. Moreover, when he met his wife, Jai, who had pained in her former marriage, he persuaded her to be married and promised that they would overcome any obstacles they would face near the future together. In addition, he became a Disney Imagineer he had dreamed to be when he was eight years old, even though he was rejected at first, because he was considered having lack of qualifications. He said that you can be or have what you hope to if you do not give up and do not underestimate yourself. He lived happiness, although he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. When he had just six months to live he gave and finished his lecture successfully.

  I had childhood dreams, too. When I was primary school student, I liked to play with a gun with friends, so I wished to be a soldier. At that time I thought if I went to army, I would be the best sniper in the world. After primary school, I knew that every man born in South Korea was able to be a soldier, but it is not optional rather enforceable. I became a military man when I was 21. One of my goals eventually achieved, but I felt it was much different to my thought. I even wanted to retreat. However, I met one guy, Jaewan, who was a comrade of mine. He encouraged me to adapt the situation I thought it was the hardest time of my life. Thus, I managed to enjoy being a military personal and learn how to deal with people who were at upper or lower positions than me. The experience also gave me an opportunity to realize parents' thanks. When I was 10, I always looked forward to coming Saturday nights with my younger brother. I watched Western movies on TV and imagined I would be there someday. Thirteen years later, when I finished my military service, my uncle living in London phoned me. To my surprise, he offered me to visit there and learn English. Although I could not afford to go there, I went to London where was always in my imagination because my uncle promised that he would support me if I went to church. My uncle family welcomed me, and I met a priest teaching me about the belief that leads my life. I also met varieties of people from the whole world. I realized that I was able to be a friend of them without any words. I worked a kitchen staff in a Japanese restaurant and a bar there. Those let me consider about my future job. When I went secondary school, I met the teacher, Sujin, who taught mathematics, and I began to love the subject. Even though I dreamed to be a scientist and study hard, it was too hard for me to cope with. In the end, I stopped being a scientist and thought I was not cleaver. Yet, the experience, many times I solved the mathematic problems, helped to choose my major, engineering.

  Once I said, when I was a kitchen staff, I needed to find something special for me. I did not want to remain as a kitchen staff. Therefore, I was considering what I did well and wanted to be. The answer of those was to study my special subject. Actually, I am still not sure it is my goal to be a professional engineer. I just do have much less dreams than I was a child. Somehow or other, I have already completed junior course in the university and I know nothing apart from engineering. Thus, I feel I have no choice and I have decided to be a technician. To be a technical expert, now I am learning special subject of study, such as mechanics of solids and dynamics-engineering mechanics and so on. Moreover, I am thinking of taking computer lessons to design machines by computer. I am studying English as well to work with a foreign company. However, lately I have faced roadblocks, like being in a slump and feeling boring whatever I do. Therefore, I have done nothing I have to. I have just forgotten learning from the past and the story of Randy. The more I am writing down about aims, the more I am sorry about myself. However, I am feeling that I will get back confidence to overcome obstacles. I will remind and remember that I learned to deal with people and could be a friend without any saying, everything is going to be right unless I give up. I will keep on being a professional engineer. It is an answer from the past.

  After reading 'The Last Lecture', I felt sorry about Randy's death, despite that he lived out of his dream with happiness. However, I could not deny he lived vividly and happily. Whenever he had troubles to continue his goals, he did not quit, but tried to look for the other way and finally achieved his aims. He was a man of his words and I hope to behave like him. Although I do not know what exactly I wish to be, I am hoping to be technical expert at the moment. I will not stop dreaming, but I will think the people with me in the past and study hard to get certification. I go ahead to accomplish my target.

[H-Man]

As I read your essay through, I have some trouble not skipping the lines. I am sorry to tell you that you need to enlarge the letters for us to read it with more ease. Anyway, thank you for your truthful story about your life from kid to adult student of today. I think we are supposed to go through a lot of drawbacks in life. In the process we could get lots of valuable lessons through our stupid mistakes. I hope you get a clear understanding of your paramount goal in life and get it as soon as possible. I am sure you can make it to your aim in life. May Your Dream Come True!