LOOKING BACK at our past selves can feel like looking at an old acquaintance—a person that you can recognize, but has become so different from what you remember. Through time, our experiences change both our actions and our perspective about life. It happens so gradually that we do not notice how time flies, until the moment we look back and reminisce about how far we have come from who we used to be.

Mind over Matter

   “I was almost always happy as a kid. Looking back, there was never a reason to smile and at the same time, there was no reason not to smile. I walked around smiling because I was innocent, and because people told me the more I smile the happier those around me would be. That is why I lifted my head high and smiled proudly for both the cameraman and those around me.”

   “Unlike what it seems, I am happy now but in a different way. Along the way, I faced many challenges: adjusting to social life, adapting to puberty’s relentless mood swings and hormonal changes, and fulfilling my parent’s expectations. Suddenly, the world seemed to become a lot more difficult as I started to be aware of the problems that I never noticed as an adolescent. As all adolescents do, I lost my innocence along the way, but I gained newfound happiness. I found reasons to be happy for myself rather than to please others. Although it may not look the case, I actually feel happier as an adult and have a genuine smile that outshines my childhood smile. I feel that everyone should find a reason to be happy within themselves, as there is little reason for me to smile for anyone but myself. As one of my favorite quotes from writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry goes: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Stuck between nations

   “As a child, I was raised to love my country and my culture. I lived in Kazakhstan for the majority of my life and felt like my identity belonged to this land. I was proud of who I was and what I stood for.”

   “The moment the plane for my flight to Korea took off, I was excited but also restless. It was my first time leaving Kazakhstan on my own. I was not sure how I would be accepted, how I would fit in. But most importantly, I was worried about how Korea would change me: I feared losing my nationality as a Kazakh. My late grandfather, who is one of my biggest role models, told me that ‘You should appreciate and respect Korea, but Kazakhstan will always be your home.’ Just knowing that Kazakhstan would always be there for me gave me consolation and I lost that sense of fear from not being accepted. This gave me the strength to open up and truly appreciate the Korean society despite its differences with Kazakhstan. Perhaps, I started loving Korea specifically because of the differences. I did not change my Kazakh ways, but I began to appreciate my stay in Korea more. What truly changed since then is how I realized my home is not my entire identity, but a sacred place I can call my own. Ever since then, I have been opening up and experiencing cultures for everything they offer."

Bubbles

   “Nobody knows very much about the world when they’re young, but for me, it was like I was living in a bubble. Many people think of the United States as a place of diversity and many cultures. While this is true for many, there are many Americans who have an unwavering stance and refuse to change their worldviews. Living in Salt Lake City, Utah, where everyone was strictly Mormon and challenging any religious or moral questions were fiercely opposed, I couldn’t even curse. Luckily for me, my mother decided to move away with me and my sibling when I was in 5th grade. It was here, in Korea, that for the first time my teachers genuinely introduced me to other ways of thinking than Mormonism; I particularly enjoyed learning about ancient Greek culture, Daoism, and Confucianism. Growing up and diving into high school, I learned other languages, and met people from diverse backgrounds; gradually, these other ways of thinking were not foreign but familiar and friendly to me. Finally, they became a part of me."

A changed perspective

   “This photo was actually taken right after I came to study in Korea two years ago. Back then, I was determined to prove I could study abroad and graduate from a foreign university. I was so focused on getting good grades and learning as much as I could about Korea that I even participated in a Korean speaking contest. I used to prefer exams over essays because it was easier to memorize the information and that it has strict guidelines that I can follow to do well. Essays, on the other hand, were harder for me because they required creative thinking and finding the right direction to prove my argument, which meant it was graded subjectively based on the professors’ preferences. Because I used to think that my grades determined the success of my college life, I spent all my time studying.”

   “Since then, I think I’ve become a more creative and carefree person. I joined a busking club a few semesters ago and started to learn how to play the guitar properly. People say college can be the [best times of your life], and having a new hobby helped me realize I should spend my time in Korea experiencing different things. It helps me relax when I’m stressed, as well as concentrate on the task at hand, rather than wonder about what I have to do next. My school life and grades are still just as important, but I’ve learned to balance my time between my academic career and leisure time.”

The value of human interaction

   “I’ve always valued the friends I had, but they weren’t such a big part of my life as I was growing up. I wasn’t anti-social by any means, but I always preferred doing things on my own, taking my time with my tasks instead of going along with someone else’s pace. I was busy growing up, trying to find the things I liked to do and entertain myself.”

   “The support and love from our family are unconditional and irreplaceable, but I’ve come to realize how important friends are during college. During these four years, we get to bond with people who have similar interests, and more than that, start a network of connections that will help you later on in life. For now, your friends are the people you go to class with, compare notes, stay up all night studying at a café, try all the delicious restaurants in town, and go travelling together. In a few years, your college roommate could end up being your children’s dentist, while your best friend could become your business partner.”

Broader horizons

   "Like the story of the frog that lived in the well, I grew up knowing everything there is to know about Hong Kong. I had a happy childhood and I had a lot of dreams, but I never really saw myself leaving my comfort zone. That changed after my trip around Asia with my cousin after I finished my university entrance examination. I've always been a curious child, but I never really took initiative and tried new things. Going on that trip, I realized I would only dream about what I wanted to do instead of ever doing it, so I studied hard and came to Korea. It has been challenging, but every time I feel like quitting, I remember how much I had dreamed as a child of accomplishing what I have in the past few years. From internships to tennis competitions, I have tried my best to experience new things. I've even started going to cafés to try out different hobbies, like painting. I want to become someone who can spread positivity to the people around me. To do that, I need to jump headfirst into the water and find out the best way to live my life to the fullest."

Finding my independence

   “I come from Mexico, a country that emphasizes family values. From the moment I was born, I celebrated all important holidays in a big family—not only was I close with my parents and my sister, but I also got along well with my extended family (cousins, uncles and aunts, etc.). When you’re used to a loud and cheerful environment full of people you love, it can be daunting to leave it all behind. I actually posted this photo of my sister and me as kids on Instagram a few months ago on Children’s Day, as a throwback to my past self and all the fun times I used to have with her.”

   “Being on my own in a new country is different in a good way. I had to figure out how to take care of myself--from stocking up on food to making sure my clothes dry properly. Having to remember and do all those things has made me more responsible. The best part, however, is having the freedom to explore who I am. I can try new foods to discover what I like or dislike, organize my house the way I like it and travel around Korea, visit my friends to study together and try out new hobbies, to name a few. I’ve also started running at night, as a way to both take care of my health as well as stress relief. I definitely miss my home and my family, but being independent has helped me find my individuality.”

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   “A moment lasts all of a second, but the memory lives on forever.” These memories of our past selves are preserved through photographs that we can look back to fondly. Over time, the changes we go through are reflected in new photos. All it takes is to put them together and realize how different we are from the people we used to be.