Memories from Korea University

I am a fervent learner in the areas of English-language education and applied linguistics. I have often attended the Korea Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (KOTESOL) and Korea Association of Teachers of English (KATE) conferences and have found them to be a great opportunity for professional development and networking with like-minded people. Nevertheless, attending the numerous presentations for two days is daunting.

By the time the KATE 2017 international conference at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies concluded, I was completely exhausted from continuously learning workshop materials; as soon as the conference ended, my initial impulse was to go to Yongsan Station to return to Gwangju. However, as my alma mater, Korea University, was within walking distance of HUFS, I decided to visit it instead, despite my fatigue.

I began to walk around the campus with renewed interest, stopping at the library where I used to spend a great deal of my college days after I had finished military service. The building conjured visions of an energetic senior who was hastily walking from the economics lecture hall to his politics class. The classes presented him with various perspectives on social issues, but in many ways, made him feel learning about inscrutable economic laws and political theories was like swallowing a mouth full of sand. And yet, the initial difficulties slowly transformed into a pleasurable experience wrought from wrestling with such concepts at the library through the late hours of the night.

I found the bench on which I had often cuddled an adorable, elegant lady in the calm and deep of the night, and with whom I strolled on the campus under the starry skies. When we found ourselves without any words for each other, we hid under the darkness in silence. Love is beyond actions. Where is she now?

Korea University! You taught me the values of freedom, justice and truth and nourished me to be a democratic citizen. As you endowed me with intelligent maturity and emotional growth, I must reward you by devoting myself to worthwhile labors. I will see you again in 20 years to share the stories of my new accomplishments with you.