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2015 Matriculation Address 2015.02.27

February 27, 2015
 
 
 
I would like to thank all distinguished guests who are here to attend Matriculation today. In particular, I would like to welcome all freshman students on behalf of the Yonsei family. Special thanks and warm congratulations to the parents of all first year students, as they have supported their children with much devotion and love.
 
Beloved freshmen of Yonsei, you must have been thrilled to have received the letters of acceptance from Yonsei University. I am sure your parents will not forget such a joyful day. Each of you overcame fierce competition and went through challenges as difficult as going through the eye of a needle. Choosing Yonsei was the most excellent decision of your lifetime and it will bear fruits of indescribable blessings.
 
It is not by coincidence that our school maintains academic excellence, integrity and reputation as the best private university. Yonsei University carries unparalleled spirit, traditions and honor of greatness. I would like to welcome all new students for the following three reasons.
 
First of all, Yonsei has been leading Korea's higher education since 1885 as the first post-secondary educational institution in the land of Chosun, full of pain and sickness at the time. As Yonsei celebrates the 130th anniversary this year, we are taking a great leap towards the world as a global university that has been ranked in the top 20 private universities by the Times Higher Education Reputation Rankings. Yonsei is now Asia's best private university and is joined by students from 103 countries around the world.
 
Second, Yonsei University brings together four campuses to create boundless synergy. Our Sinchon Campus embraces the old and new, while the Yonsei University Health System boasts Korea's finest, Severance Hospital. The Yonsei International Campus in Songdo embodies the slogan, "Global Yonsei, towards the World," and our eco-friendly Wonju Campus breathes in harmony with the local community.
 
Last, our school is setting the new paradigm of Asia's university education by implementing the advanced Residential College (RC) system to promote well-rounded education. The RC system has already been well-recognized by not only students, but also parents, faculty members and the local community. In particular, parents sending their children to Yonsei will not have to meddle with their children for not coming back home till late, and students will also be able to enjoy the creative campus community with friends as they live and study together.
 
For these reasons, our school has been ranked as the No. 1 university of choice among high school students in Korea for many years. You have now accomplished this very dream. The freshman students entering Yonsei today may not fully realize the three aforementioned reasons. But before the first semester ends, love and pride for Yonsei will automatically be instilled in your hearts.
 
Dear freshmen students of Yonsei, 
For the past 130 years, Yonsei University has been protecting its great history and traditions as the prestigious private university, founded on the Christian mission, "The truth will set you free." Even during the period of aristocracy, Yonsei rejected discrimination and offered equal learning opportunities for all. Yonsei was also the first university to implement coeducation for both men and women, even during the period of patriarchal society when women were discriminated. Under the Japanese regime, Yonsei cultivated pillars of national education and the independence movement and under the military dictatorship, we led democratization and rallied for human rights. In the 21st century, Yonsei supports peaceful unification, leads social development and contributes to the society by sharing.
 
It is truly a blessing that each of you is starting your university life here at Yonsei, the university that has been leading this country and its people ahead of the times. You should now utilize this opportunity to unfold your potentials and make it into a turning point of your lifetime.
 
As the President of Yonsei, as a former Yonsei student who was also standing here 44 years ago as a freshman, and as a father of three Yonsei alumni, I would like to offer a few words for how you should manage your four years of university life.
 
First of all, you must have great dreams and visions. You have endured many hardships to enter Yonsei University. Think about your parents, siblings and family members who have been devotedly supporting your journey to Yonsei. Make sure to fulfill your hope and vision through university life by making a new promise today. Hope and anticipation might be the two words that best suit matriculation. Hope and anticipation create an output of accomplishment and progress. I would like to ask all of you to grow into responsible adults who can fulfill not only your personal hope, but also the anticipations of our society placed upon all Yonseians.
 
Throughout the world, it is said that university education will determine one's life, and success of one's university life is determined during the first year. Therefore, the first year of university is known as a turning point of one's lifetime. In other words, how you spend your first year will determine your path of life. In that regards, you are starting off your university life under excellent conditions. Yonsei is the only university in Korea with the advanced RC system to guide all freshmen students. Throughout your university years, you should find yourself and discover your potential. Cultivate your dream and create an opportunity to achieve it. Many young adults of this generation tend to follow paths favored by others, regardless of their own talents or interests. Paths of complacency, impetuosity or thoughtless mimicry are not the paths that should be taken by us Yonseians.
 
Richard Bach's novella "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" depicts Jonathan, a seagull, who flies high to master the art of flying, unlike other seagulls squabbling over food. Jonathan may have acted oddly compared to other seagulls, but he must have felt the joy of following his heart and the thrill of pursuing a new path. We shall remember that only the few creative souls like Jonathan the seagull can change society and write new history through reform and advancement.
 
Beloved students, 
How well do you know yourself? Do you know what you do the best, what you like the most and what you want to do for the rest of your life without any regrets? As you spend more time at Yonsei, you should be able to answer such questions on your own. The answers cannot be provided by anyone else but you. Our Creator has made each one of us with different expectations. We are all born to fulfill the unique expectations placed on each person, so there is no need to go after anyone else's path. All our first year students should find their own way to give hope to the world, not follow others.
 
Next, during your university years, you should thoroughly prepare yourself to demonstrate professional abilities in your own field. Nothing in this world is achieved without any effort. Exhaustive practice is required to become outstanding players. A blacksmith must beat the iron countless times to make the final piece of robust metal. It is not under the specialist's realm if anyone can complete the task without preparation. The book of Psalm from the Old Testament said, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).
 
To become a specialist in a certain field, we must have patience, exert much effort and persevere. At times, you might face intolerable hardships, fall into a test or question your own abilities. But even pinwheels need to meet a headwind to start spinning. University is a ladder that can transcend your endless potentials into the real world. Spend the most valuable period of your life for yourself with dreams and hope, and your latent capabilities will transform the world into your stage.
 
Our proud freshman students, 
It is said that many hardships are present in our age. It is especially true for the younger generations. In contrast with the industrialization era of rapid economic growth, it is true that today's realities pose many challenges. But no matter how good of a time it may be, no opportunity is given to those without any preparation. Pearls still shine in the mud. Leaders of the world demonstrate their full potentials despite hardships. The freshman students of Yonsei should thoroughly prepare today for their bright future.
 
Thirdly, I hope that your university years will be a time of active preparation for sharing with others and serving them. Many people are only interested in accumulating wealth and exercising their power. They are more interested in what they own than what they can share. However, the Bible says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The world is made more beautiful and harmonious by those who share with others and serve them.
 
Mr. L. H. Severance, who made donations pivotal to the establishment of our Severance Hospital since 1900, said to Dr. O. R. Avison, who thanked for the generous contribution, "My joy of giving is greater than your joy of receiving." You should not become a person who sacrifices others for you, but a person who makes many others happy through yourself.
 
Dear freshman students, 
You shall cultivate insight that can look into the future instead of chasing what's right in front of your eyes. Imagine yourself 10 and 20 years down the road, and find mentors who you want to take after when the time comes. Picture a life, free from self, transcending to society, nation and even humanity. To become a global leader, you should be able to look at the world with a larger perspective. Xun Zi said, "One does not know how high the sky is until climbing up the tops of mountains, and does not know how thick the earth is until one comes to the deep valley." It is my wish that at Yonsei, you will learn to see through a larger and deeper perspective in life. 
 
Beloved first year students, 
From now on, Yonsei will try its best to support each of you as you find your own path. Yonsei will be the efficient cradle of your professional skills, in addition to offering various opportunities for you to build up your character as a leader who can share with others and serve them. I hope all new students can have a great start of their blessed university years as they remind themselves again to live a fulfilling university life.
 
My God's abundant grace and guidance be with all first year students, their parents and distinguished guests who joined us today.
 
Thank you.

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