Speech _ Belief

Speech _ Belief

131057 Raymond Keonho Park

          

        Everyone experiences slumps, when nothing comes to any good. For me, who is not that good at adapting to new environments, KMLA was literally hard. I mean, this place was so unadaptable in every way. It took more than a month to acknowledge to myself that I am in Gang-won do and I am a student of KMLA. The most painful thing that disturbed my adaptation was loneliness. I was so lonely. I could not trust anyone in this place. I missed my family, friends and especially Seoul, where I can get anything I want with ease.

        I believe the majority of 18^th wavers had a hard time at KMLA during February or are still struggling with themselves. They might have problems with friendships, relationships with the juniors and seniors and so on. Then, what was my problem? I was scared. Scared of making relationships by necessity. I had visited KMLA last year in order to participate in the Korean Debate Contest, what we call 우토 in short. Living at KMLA and experiencing life like a KMLA student, it was a great opportunity for me to assure my volition to go KMLA. At the same time, I experienced one fearful thing for the first time.  Many students were forming relationships by necessity, an award. It is quiet natural to feel awkward with people one’s just met. However, students, even myself, treated others as if we knew each other for a long time because we had to form teamwork, discuss and win in the debate. So that we could draw near our dream of being a KMLA student. I am sure that relationships by necessity can neither be thoughtful nor deep. It must be a superficial friendship. Unfortunately, it happened again this year, and I could not feel sincerity. I was lonely because I felt no body as a real friend. Every person around me was just a stranger.

         A slump had come to me, and my life in KMLA was continuous days of unhappiness. At that moment, I got one message and soon noticed that it was just my illusion. In fact, there was one person I believed but forgot while struggling with myself. The environment of KMLA that restricts connection between boys and girls also played a role. She and I had known each other for three years, but only got along with each other since last year. We had many things in common that made us to talk a lot. Thus, there was an incident that made us to become much more intimate. A newcomer came to our 학원. But that girl was quite odd and very good at annoying others. To me, she was the one who dispersed my secret to teachers. I was so mad at her, but just ended it with saying that I am so disappointed because I did not have courage to say any more bad words. All of the boys did not like her, and some of us behaved severely. Finally, that girl told teachers that boys were bullying her, and she marked three primary people. Unfortunately, I was included. Knowing that the words of the victim are superior in that situation, I was so gloomy and embarrassed. Since I was never implicated in such a situation before, I did not know anything to do but just kept being concerned about everything.

‘What if other people think ill of me? What if they think I am a real bad person?’

The biggest thing that I worried about was others’ opinion of me. Thus, those students were people who I may see 3 years more in high school. While I was wandering in the darkness of my life, she, my friend, told me something.

“I believe you. And I know you. 박건호 who I know must not be a person who would do such things. Even if you did bad things to her, I still believe you and you are my friend just the same.”

They were the most encouraging words in my life. The result of the girl’s accusation was physical punishment for me and my friends. However, I was not worried anymore, because I had the conviction that someone still believed me. Above all things, I was so glad that I had someone who I could call a “best friend.”

           She was the one who rescued me again this time. Sending a message that I do not look good these days, she asked if something happened to me. I spoke out my mind and emotions, about how I feel about the new place. Actually, she did not tell me anything special this time. Just common encouraging words. However, the facts themselves that I have someone to tell my feelings to and that person is always waiting for me, made me comfortable. Only then did I come to feel at ease.

         Troubles come to every person through various ways, even though you do not welcome them. Those devils make people wander and struggle a lot, and even commit suicide in bad cases. Surprisingly, the weapons to fight against the troubles are simple. It’s belief. A conviction that I am not alone in this world. A conviction that someone would be with me to the end. It makes a person to receive courage and get out of trouble, as I did. Consequently, what you have to do is to give a helping hand to your friends. Try to make REAL friends who you can be devoted to as much as yourself. What you should do for your friends is not something grand. Only few words of “I believe you” with a sincere heart will make anyone endure a slump.