SOMETIMES ALL it takes is a piece of advice from others to get out of a difficult situation. If a person is fortunate enough, the right advice given with good timing can turn a chaotic moment into an opportunity. In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, students from Yonsei University share the best advice they have ever received and its impact on their life, hoping that it could also help others as well. 

Choi Seong-min (Jr., UIC, Economics)

   “The best advice I ever received was regarding my relationship with my father. This year I had a difficult time interacting with my father, and I talked about it with a friend and his family. His mother used sa-ju[1] to tell me that my father was not born lucky when it comes to relationships; this made it likely for him to feel lonely often. She also shared her own experiences with her family. Although I didn’t believe in the superstitious parts, the advice helped me adopt a new perspective on my relationship with my father. Ever since then, I’ve been treating my father with more care and now we are on better terms.”

Kim Do-yub (Sr., UIC, International Studies)

   “‘Whatever the results may be, first get started,’ is the best advice I have ever received. There is no single moment or person that I attribute to this advice, as I’ve heard it over and over again. The advice was helpful since I tend to be a perfectionist, not bothering to start something unless I know I can get it done just the way I want it. However, this mentality prevented me from doing anything, since most things are not as perfect as I would like them to be. Now, even when my perfectionism holds me back from starting projects, the advice reminds me that the important thing is that I started, and starting is often enough for me to be motivated to finish the work.” 

Kim Hun (Soph., Dept. of Medicine)

   “‘Having plans is good, but always remember that things don’t turn out as expected and allow yourself some room to maneuver,’ is a lesson that I learned when I was preparing for Mister Yonsei, the university’s bodybuilding contest, in 2018. Being the planner that I am, I was looking to have a fixed carbohydrate intake to make my muscles as defined as possible. So, I asked my personal trainer for advice on my meal schedule. However, the answer I received was simple: regulate the intake depending on the state of one’s body. This advice could have been a no-brainer for some people, but it made me realize that I have been thinking in absolutes when considering my future. Ever since then, I’m trying to be more flexible with myself and take more risks. Things won’t turn out as I originally planned, but I can manage to deal with this new ‘alternative timeline.’” 

Jung Wu-jin (Jr., Dept. of Theology)

   “The most memorable advice I got was ‘time flows differently for everyone.’ Before I did my mandatory military service, I was concerned about spending 18 months on a military base while all my peers in university all advanced towards their goals. I felt like I was stuck in jail in a game of monopoly while others rolled their dice. When I told this to my high school teacher, she said that ‘everyone follows their own timeline, with the speed and distance traveled being different for everyone.’ The advice made me realize that I had been following a common path outlined by society. I entered Yonsei University by following guidelines given by the Korean education system. I had been continuing along the predetermined path. I thought that taking time to step out of this path would leave me behind, unable to ever catch up again. Now, I am more aware of the fact that everyone’s experiences are different, with different checkpoints and obstacles to overcome. I had been anxious about my own timeline, but I wasn’t alone.”     

Jang Han-kyeol (Jr., Dept. of Theology)

   “When I was a freshman, I had a hard time getting along with others because I wanted to have a good relationship with everyone. Of course, this was impossible, making me feel down whenever someone didn’t like me back. So, I asked a senior classmate for some advice. He said that one-third of people will like you no matter what, another one-third will make up their mind depending on your actions towards them, and the rest will dislike you no matter what. Although this is far from statistically scientific, I got the point. I realized that some people will not get along well with me, and I had to accept that fact. Ever since then, relationships have been much more relaxing for me.”  

Byeon Hee-jin (Sr., Dept. of Business)

   “The best advice I’ve gotten is to ‘aim for quantity over quality.’ One should always seek to do more rather than to seek perfection. I used to struggle with procrastination. I didn’t start work until the very last minute and regretted it when I rushed to meet deadlines. In sophomore year, the number of assignments and extracurricular activities I was doing doubled, and that’s when I realized that I couldn’t keep this habit. Around that time, I came across a productivity video on YouTube that highlighted the importance of letting go of perfection, and I was able to understand the reason behind my procrastination. I was afraid of not being able to meet the standard I’ve subconsciously set for myself. From that day onward, I focused on the amount of work instead of the quality. The ‘start now, fix later’ mentality helped me stop procrastinating and start working. I also made a regular habit of devoting time to productivity. During weeks when I had assignments due, I dedicated time in the morning purely for writing my paper and worked on projects every day for a minimum of four hours. This helped me a lot, and I was able to establish a healthier work lifestyle for myself. I have yet to give this advice to anyone since I’m still fixing my old habits, but if anyone struggles with the same problem, I hope this could help them too.”

[1] Sa-ju: A traditional style of fortune telling that is prevalent in East Asia