German and Me

I still remember the reaction on the faces of my family, friends and even high school teachers, when I said to them that I was going to take German as my major. After my high school graduation, I received two acceptance letters from two universities with totally different major. First one was from a well known University and on the top of that, the major I got accepted at was International Business and Economics, which almost everyone in Korea is dying to go to. The other University was not as much well known as the first one and the major was German Language and Literature. I could read from everyone’s face that they were all expecting me to choose the first. However, I chose the latter.

Majoring in German has made my life very colorful. It actually has turned me into a quite different person! I had always been very much repressed by the thought that I should always concentrate on studying or only for employment preparation. Until my highschool years, I never watched TV nor movies nor books and I never let myself go out of any control. To compare to a movie, I felt like I was living in very olden classic days, where everything was under control and planned. I was almost never opposed to my parents’ opinion and listened and followed as what they suggested. Therefore, the decision I made meant a great deal for me; for the first time I had made my own crucial decision!

Even until now, people ask me why and how I could come out with such a conclusion. I sometimes ask myself the same question, too. And my answer is always the same : “I think I was destined to take this path.” It is yet impossible for me to put it in to words, but I felt this very strong urge inside me, craving for German. Eventhough I knew that choosing the first University would make my future easier, I just could not cope with the fact that I won’t be able to study German. Since then, I have never regretted this choice I made.

Walking on a “new” or “unusual road” makes people to meet difficulties and to go over it on their own, whereas walking on a “normal” or “standard road” helps people to make less mistakes and faults, for there’s already a lot of examples before them. Taking the path that people don’t usually take is surely a hardship. However, following others for easier life with less adversities results in something tragic. The statistics show that 80% of the employees in Korea feel unhappy with the job they have. I am sure the road that I am walking on now is not common. Hence, I am also quite aware of the fact that I’ll get to encounter a lot of difficulties. Nevertheless, what’s fun if life is all smooth and planned? Allow the ups and downs! Let’s enjoy the “life Roller-coaster!”