(The general content of this writing was written as part of my application form for Yonsei University, just so you'd know.)
Personal History
Through God��s calling, my family and I landed on the island of the Philippines on the 8th of February, 1987. Our plane landed in Manila, and we decided to stay here for the first couple of months before we continued our travelling to our destination, which was the region of Bicol. When my family arrived in Bicol my sister and I attended a Chinese school (Legazpi Hope Christian School). I went in as a nursery with no knowledge about the country what so ever. Honestly speaking, I don��t quit recall the hardships or any of the feelings that a new foreigner would feel, since I was too young. After a little while, my sister got sick and had to go back to Korea. So I continued my schooling by myself in this unfamiliar and awkward culture.
My parents first ministered to the village kids, teaching them basic knowledge on how to groom themselves. After a while, they started their church ministry at our own house. Surprisingly enough a lot of our church members today were with us in our pictures almost 15 years ago. Our family moved our house number of times to live in a more convenient place as a family and as missionaries. I continued my studies at the same school, all the way 'till sixth grade.
For me being in a Chinese school only meant being with Chinese friends and teachers. I didn't learn their culture or their language as I spent eight years of my education with them. I actually took the Chinese mandatory course when I was in nursery and first year of my kindergarten years. But all I remember is how to pronounce my name in their language. After the long two years of struggle for learning any languages perfectly, the school allowed me to quit the class.
I began to master the most commonly used dialect of the country, Tagalog. It wasn��t too hard for me to learn this language, since most of my friends were Filipinos. As years past by, I gradually forgot my own language and culture. I assume that was the reason why my parents decided to send me to Manila as soon as they heard the opening of a Korean school. They wanted me to be with Koreans, write in Korean, and most of all, think like a Korean! So after my fourth year of elementary, I left Bicol to study in Hankuk Academy as a fifth grader. I struggled in terms of academics, but it also left me some good memories about friends and experiences that are worth thinking about.
Although that year was a great learning experience about my own country, my academic grades gave me serious stress and depression. So by the grace of my dear parents ^^;, they allowed me to go back to Bicol and graduated elementary in LHCS. By the end of my last year of elementary, I took a entrance exam in a school called "High School of Aquinas University" in Bicol and at Faith Academy as a 7th grader. Through God��s will, I made it to both schools, but i decided to go to Faith Academy. It, obviously wasn��t a matter of choice. We all prayed that i would make it to Faith Academy and be with other missionary kids like myself. I was fortunate enough that my sister was already attending Faith. It was very encouraging to have her around when i needed some advice or help with my homework.
I lived in a dorm which was just a few steps away from my sister's. I was able to learn English fast enough because of my Western dorm mates. I was able to learn the American culture and actually coped with it. The dorm helped me a lot as a new student in an International School. I was thankful that I had people around to help me do my homework and explain things to me in easier words when needed. I guess the dorm gave me a good start in looking forward to the new environment.
Special Activities
As a Christian school, Faith Academy provides all students a chance to minister and reach out to the tribal people in Metro Manila. One of these ministries that I joined for two years was a Sunday ministry called ��A4J��, which stands for ��All for Jesus.�� We, Faith students, serve to help them learn and enjoy their walk with God every Sunday morning in one of our school basketball courts. We prepare games, snacks, special activities, and sermons that are meant to increase their knowledge about the Bible and God. Out of all the Faith students in this ministry, I was the only one who could speak their native language, therefore, I became a big help in the ministry as we continued to reach out to them as a body. I hardly remember what that ministry meant for me at that time. But I believe that it was definitely a good experience for me.
I started going to a Korean church when I was in 8th grade, instead of attending the service at our school campus for dorm students. So after the A4J in the morning, I went to my Korean church for the Sunday service. I joined the church choir for three years and also had a chance to serve as a treasurer in our Korean youth group for a year when I was in 9th grade. After three years of boarding at Faith, I decided to live outside our school campus for a change. The main reason for this was because I wanted to spend more time at our church working for God.
For some reason, my sister and I ended up in a boarding house that was also used as a church. So I was obligated to attend the service at our boarding house during Sundays while we were there. I served God as a guitarist, though I was only a beginner, and also as a treasurer of the youth group there. But God knew my heart, and brought my sister and I out from that house and led us to another house. Therefore, I continued to attend my other church and decided to serve as a flutist during the night service.
In the beginning of my senior year, God gave me a responsibility as part of the youth group at our church. He told me to use my time and effort to bring the group closer to God this year before I leave to Korea. I prayed and thought about this responsibility for about two months, wondering how I should start. Then finally, in the midst of my prayers, God told me to start a prayer meeting on Saturdays before our youth meeting. So on February 2001, I started our youth group's very first prayer meeting, which I believe is not active anymore.
Personal Life��s Philosophy
Since I was a child, I've always felt obligated to help everybody around me that needs help. I especially strongly feel this obligation when I see needy people around me. The Philippines is just full of underclass people that, of course, it is impossible to help everyone that I see. But I try to keep my eyes open for those that I CAN help.
Psychology and I
I was, in a way, forced to study in Korea by my parents for several reasons. If I had the choice to study abroad, I probably majored in another field. But I knew and still believe that it would be impossible for me to catch up with Korean student in the fine arts or music department here in Korea- the field that I"m actually interested in. The reason why I chose to study psychology is quite funny. As I looked through the Ewha and Yonsei site, I didn't know what the majors meant in English. And I would not have known what they were even if they WERE in English. But I knew that "simrihak" meant psychology, and I knew what psychology was about. So I chose psychology although I wasn't completely interesting in studying it. It actually took me quite a while to accept myself as a psychology student. But after accepting that God already has a plan for me as I am, I feel much better about this whole matter. I'm actually liking my course, although my grades aren't giving me much pleasure ^^;.
Through God��s calling, my family and I landed on the island of the Philippines on the 8th of February, 1987. Our plane landed in Manila, and we decided to stay here for the first couple of months before we continued our travelling to our destination, which was the region of Bicol. When my family arrived in Bicol my sister and I attended a Chinese school (Legazpi Hope Christian School). I went in as a nursery with no knowledge about the country what so ever. Honestly speaking, I don��t quit recall the hardships or any of the feelings that a new foreigner would feel, since I was too young. After a little while, my sister got sick and had to go back to Korea. So I continued my schooling by myself in this unfamiliar and awkward culture.
l Assignment l Notes 
