A MULTITUDE of situations in our lives require us to draw courage from deep within, a choice that can entail sacrifices. It is necessary for us to take risks to achieve psychological growth, and acts of courage can help us overcome challenges and cope with major transitions in our lives. The Yonsei Annals interviewed Yonsei students to hear about the bravest moments of their lives.

Neda Cerniauskaite (Soph., UIC, Sustainable Development and Cooperation)

   “The most fearless time of my life was when I came to Korea for college. This was the first time I had to travel alone to a foreign country. I had not heard a lot about Korea growing up in Lithuania my whole life, so I did not know what to expect. I kept my expectations low to avoid any shock or disappointment. I came here because I wanted to experience a different culture and environment. I was nervous because I could not speak Korean and I did not know anybody, but I am very happy that I came to Korea. It was a big decision that will impact the rest of my life.”

Lee Ju-Young (Fresh., Underwood Division)

   “As an Asian child born and raised in Switzerland, I lived in an area where there were hardly any Asian people. Growing up, I experienced stereotypes and discrimination firsthand. Kindergarten and first years in primary school were the bravest moments of my life. I felt the language barriers and the exclusions due to my ethnicity from many peers and some of the teachers. It was challenging because many treated me as an outsider, even though I regarded Switzerland as my home, and it was the only country I knew at that time. I consider myself lucky to have met some very loyal friends throughout this time and my parents did a great job by not interfering with my struggles too much but rather encouraging me to fight. My situation gradually bettered with me learning how to cope with racism and discrimination. In general, it made me stronger as a person and taught me lessons that I regard as invaluable for my life.”

Jeong Hyun-seung (Jr., Dept. of Child and Family Studies)

   "When I was a freshman in Yonsei, someone recommended me to run for our department's Student Council Representative. Long story short, I got elected as one, but it was not an easy decision to make since a lot of people told me that studying should be the foremost priority and the work of leading students required a lot of courage. However, I met lots of people with various backgrounds through this experience—an indispensable asset later when I became a vice-president in our department the following year. I guess I wasn’t sure of whether I could handle my academic career and other things simultaneously, which feels like a minor concern in hindsight. Instead of figuring the loss and gain beforehand, you should challenge yourself for bigger dreams."

Kim Ser-yeong (Fresh., Global Leadership Division)

   “I think the bravest moment in my life was when I first learned how to ride a bicycle. I learned it when I was 16 and I was very embarrassed as people usually learn to do it earlier. The main thing that was hindering me was my fear of falling and getting hurt. The defining moment for me was when a friend who had a bicycle urged me to try to ride it.  I first started learning with training wheels and later, I realized I could do without them. There were times where I would fall, but I ignored all my fears and told myself to keep pedaling. When I finally became comfortable riding a bicycle, I felt like a grown-up. But more importantly, I felt relieved because I thought, if I could do this, I can do other brave things in the future.”

Won Seo-yeon (Jr., Dept. of Nursing)

   “My bravest moment goes back to when I was a senior in high school. I was heading home after school, and it was raining a lot. Thankfully, I had an umbrella, but I saw a woman walking ahead without one, holding her handbag above her head to avoid getting wet. I felt so bad for her since it was raining quite heavily. I really wanted to share the umbrella with her, but it wasn't easy approaching a stranger and asking if she wanted to share my umbrella. I walked towards the woman before she got any wetter and held out my umbrella to cover her from the rain. She seemed quite surprised since I—a complete stranger—wanted to share an umbrella. After parting ways, it felt so warm and rewarding that I could lend a hand to a stranger. It was worthwhile to help somebody with my small courage.”

Hana Yoon (Soph., Dept. of English Language & Lit.)

   “In my last year of high school, I told my mom about how I was skeptical about my religious identity. Initially, it took quite a lot of courage to tell my mom. Since my parents are missionaries, I naturally grew up with a Christian background my entire life, thinking Christianity was the only truth. However, I realized that I was not serious about my religious faith and did not enjoy going to church as it felt more like a task. My mom insisted that we could resort to bible studies instead of going to church. But in doing so, I realized it only reinforced my decision to leave my religious practice behind. We had conflicting ideas, but she accepted me for who I wanted to be in the end. I think courage is needed at unexpected times, but as long as you have considered all the possible outcomes of your decision, you should go and act on them.”