It feels as if it were a long rollercoaster ride. From the very beginning I got into HUFS back in 2003 to this day I have graduated there from, it was a time another chapter of my life all started and unfolded, with many ups and downs, yet to learn invaluable lessons. Through this opportunity more than generously offered by Professor Nam, I would like to share these lessons with many respected alumni and colleagues at HUFS: first, find and run for your dream; second, make full use of what the Department offers to achieve your dream; lastly, never give up.

First of all, find and run for your dream. HUFS taught me the importance of college years in pursuing the career after graduation, and I tried consistently and persistently to find and seek after the right career for me. When I first got into HUFS, I wanted to be a competent interpreter/translator (hereinafter “I/T”) and to continue my studies at GSIT or Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation. With such a daunting goal, I spent the first two years (2003-2004) studying languages (English and Spanish) because I believed that, before learning any specific interpretation and translation (“EIT”) techniques and skills which can be considered an applied science, having a good command of the language itself is very important to become an excellent I/T. After two years of military service (2005-2006), I found myself deeply intrigued by international law (especially international trade law) and decided to become a WTO law expert. I prepared and applied for positions at the Trade Ministry under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2007-2009). Irrespective of the results, it was one of the valuable periods in my life because I believe that, looking back on it, what I learned then was the very basic background that helps me now study law more deeply; after I graduated summa cum laude from the EIT Department, I entered Korea University Graduate School of Law and I am currently working on my master’s degree specializing in WTO law. Here, I am not asking you to be perfectly consistent with your dreams; rather, what is more important is that you keep searching for what you truly want to become after graduation. Of course college life is ‘not entirely’ about studying and pursuing careers. Make friends, and enjoy campus life. But with all the happy memories, don’t forget to find your dream.  

Secondly, make full use of what EIT Department offers to achieve your dream. One of the merits to study EIT at HUFS is that the department offers a vast variety of options curriculum-wise: not only can you take many in-depth EIT-related courses, but you can study social science-related fields such as international relations, politics and cultures as well. I myself took a full advantage of these courses to reach – or restart from – where I am now. Although I am studying a clearly different field (yet English being most prevailingly used), it is undeniable that I still benefit greatly from what I studied under the EIT curricula back then. So I humbly ask you to do the same. And please remember: you need to make your dream happen. If you dream of something but do nothing about it, then you are dreaming in vain. 

Lastly, never give up on your dream and keep fighting for it. It is my personal belief that you can’t win all the time, and can’t achieve everything all at once. Some things require more time and more efforts. If you think you have tried hard enough, try harder. For example, during 2007-2009 periods I prepared for the MOFAT, I saw many brilliant fellow students quit studying after they failed two or more times. Truth be told, I myself was tempted several times for the easier paths with less sacrifice to make; but I endured and survived to write another chapter in pursuit of my dream. I am not saying that their giving up on dreams was wrong and I, by continuously pursuing it, am right. That I do not and cannot know. What I DO know, though, is that in order to be a true expert in your career, you need to make a fair sacrifice; i.e., there is no free lunch. I will never cease to do my best to become that person in my field. And I respectfully ask you to do the same. 

My dearest alumni and colleagues, hoping that this essay will be of any help for you pursuing your careers, I sincerely ask you to keep looking for your dream; make it happen with HUFS EIT Department; and never give up on it. Further, though this opportunity I would like to thank all the professors from EIT Department who taught, supported and inspired me during my college years for the humble achievements I was able to accomplish. I will do my utmost to be a proud member of the alumni of HUFS College of English. And when the day comes that I achieve what I have long dreamed of, so proudly I will say out loud: “I WAS HERE AT HUFS.” I long for that day to come.