February 27, 2014
Dear respected freshmen of Yonsei,
I cannot describe the overwhelming triumph you must be feeling on this special day. Each of you must have endured many hardships along the way to reach this place today. I fully understand the amount of pain you must have experienced during the course of overcoming battles against yourselves with hard work and perseverance, as well as the sacrifice and dedication made by your family members. My sincere words are not spoken as the President of Yonsei, but as fellow Yonseian who endured the same course of hardships as a freshman student 41 years ago, and as a father who sent all three of his children to Yonsei as well. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all of the incoming students for becoming a part of the Yonsei family through great tribulations.
With confidence, I can assure this to all incoming students and their family members; you will realize through experience that choosing Yonsei was the best decision of your life. Sometimes we jokingly remark that, “in today’s global era, it might be easy to change your nationality, but not your alma mater.” You have made an excellent choice. Through Yonsei, your potential will shine more brightly beyond your imaginations. The 129 years of Yonsei history and traditions are the living witness to my statement. The “Third founding” initiative, in which you will be leading as the main cast, will make yet another shining tradition in our future.
Yonsei first opened the doors for the “First Founding” initiative in 1885 with the establishment of Gwanghyewon (Jejungwon) that brought modern medical practices and post-secondary education to Korea. Jejungwon later developed into Severance Hospital and Medical College. Another branch grew with Dr. Horace G. Underwood’s Underwood School and its expansion into Yonhi College and Yonhi University. In 1957, Yonhi and Severance Medical College finally merged to create Yonsei, which marks the “Second Founding” of our school. Today, Yonsei is making history with the “Third Founding” initiative as we leap towards a world class university through a ground-breaking takeoff in teaching and research, the basic missions of a university.
Since foundation, Yonsei has been pioneering Korea’s post-secondary education and medical services. It was also the center of our national culture research during the colonial period. After gaining back independence, we led the country’s industrialization and democratization. Now, Yonsei shall take the lead to pioneer the paradigm of Korea’s post-secondary education by inheriting and advancing Yonsei’s spirit, as well as its sense of community and academic traditions. Furthermore, it should also lead the way to transform the world into a humane and mature community full of life and love.
Dear beloved freshman students,
You are the makers of Yonsei’s “Third Founding” history. To fulfill our vision of becoming a world-class university, Yonsei shall achieve excellence in teaching and research while making a commitment to serve society. Through the Residential College (RC) program, which implemented a creative community that combines living and learning, Yonsei is creating the most optimized environment to foster well-rounded leaders to serve the future of this society.
The RC system is not only about living together in dormitories. The world’s most prestigious schools such as the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in the UK, as well as Ivy League universities in the U.S., already have implemented the RC system. Just like the students from these world class schools, you will also be able to share your thoughts on the problems of academics, the future and society, with your Residential Master professors, Residential Assistants and fellow classmates within the RC community. During this period, you will naturally learn how to respect differences and care for others, while empathizing and communicating with them through the good and bad.
Education researchers mark the first year of university as the “conversion year.” In other words, how you spend the first year of your university career will change your life. Our university has been preparing for this RC program for more than a decade. Starting in 2007 with Wonju Campus, we have already confirmed the efficacy of this program. Today we have prepared an unparalleled environment for all incoming students at Yonsei to be able to partake in this RC system. The future that you will make together through the RC community will be unprecedentedly beautiful and full of dignity. Our RC model is already becoming a benchmark model for other Asian universities, and I firmly believe that it will constitute the foundation that will help Yonsei’s advance further to a world-class level.
Beloved students,
As you take your first step forward as a Yonseian today, I would like to pass along some requisitions as an individual, a Yonseian and a scholar of Korea.
First of all, I hope you will remember in the many years to come the joy and excitement you feel today. I also hope that you will sublimate such memory into a new resolution. You are the chosen people who constitute the top 1% of Korea’s outstanding talents. Dare to dream big to create a life that matches your potentials. When the fisherman Simon Peter was disappointed after a long day of not catching any fish, Jesus said to him, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) When Simon Peter followed the Words, he caught more fish than his nets could fit. Telling Simon Peter to put down the nets into the deep water was Jesus’ rebuke to dream big for those who will become leading figures. “I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’” said George Bernard Shaw.
What are your inadequacies of today? Where else in the world can we find such talented and privileged individuals as you? It will be regarded as a luxury in other parts of the world to feel inadequate due to small things such as family trouble. You all have the potentials to actualize your determination and hope of today. Yonsei will be the driving force that sublimates your potentials to reality. What are you missing right now? If you think you lack in anything, it might very well be the dream itself or determination to actualize your dream. The Bible says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26) Starting today, start dreaming big and bring it to life with all your efforts at Yonsei. Remembering the story of Li Guang, who pierced a rock with an arrow by shooting with all his soul and might, your abilities will reveal its true worth when they are brought to life through firm determination. What can possibly be too difficult to achieve when your intellectual potentials, determination with big dreams and passion come together?
Second of all, please learn the true spirit of Yonsei. Our founder Missionary Dr. Underwood answered God’s calling at age 26 to leave his family and relatives to come to open Yonsei University on Chosun, the “barren land of darkness without any trees or grass.” Missionary Dr. H. N. Allen also devoted his life for medical missions at age 26. Dr. O. R. Avison, the first head of Severance Medical School, came to Korea at age 33 to serve Severance and Yonhi, as well as the patients of Chosun, for the next 42 years. Whenever I think of the pioneers and their extraordinary and admirable legacy, I feel infinitely small. On this prosperous land of miracles that began with the tiny seeds planted by your seniors, you are now to draw the new future.
The beginning of this miraculous result originates back to the spirit of vocation that answered, “God, I am here,” upon receiving His calling. Why can we not do the same? How come the young men and women of today cannot have such large-scale dreams? It might be difficult to directly compare ourselves with Dr. Underwood due to the large disparity. However, today’s youth easily fall under the worldly restraints without even answering small callings or having small dreams. Such path of action does not match the spirit of Yonsei. The spirit of Yonsei has fostered leaders that pioneered the stream of times after overcoming all challenges. Instead of following the trend, they have been answering the callings to open the first pages of the new era.
Thus, the spirit of Yonsei has been able to sparkle more brightly during the difficult times. The spirit of Yonsei demonstrated by our pioneers such as Ahn Chang Ho, and Yun Dong-Ju tells us to push ourselves through the darkness and overcome obstacles to achieve our goals. Your future will always hold uncertainties and rapid changes and you will frequently experience trouble without clear directions. Whenever you encounter such difficulties, please remember the invincible spirit of Yonsei.
Third of all, it is my wish for you to become the light to change the world. A Yonseian should be the most trusted person in the world. The Korean society today is facing a crisis of trust where conflicts and enmity are intensified with people who do not have faith in each other. Conflicts are rapidly increasing the social cost, while polarization and the gap between the rich and poor are augmenting the sense of incompatibility between classes. To escape from such crisis of trust and advance ourselves, we need to expand our foundation of trust. Based on strong faith, you need to become the bridge that connects the valley created by conflicts.
Dear freshman students,
What is the founding spirit of Yonsei? It says “The truth will set you free.” Yonseians shall be the people who learn the truth and only spread the truth. Such course of action will enable one to become a trusted scholar, and it is where Yonsei’s reputation and traditions begin. The true meaning of God’s teaching, “The truth will set you free,” will be lived out by Yonseians with knowledge based on scientific rationality, as well as the virtue of faith and solicitude based on love for mankind. Yonseians shall become the envoys that can transform the society into a place of trust.
Starting today, you are Yonsei’s letter to the world. It is said that talent is remembered by head, while solicitude is remembered by heart. Become Yonseians whose words and actions can be trusted by the world and remembered by others’ hearts. Starting today for eternity, you are the symbol and star of Yonsei. May each of you become a shining star that can add light to Korea in the crisis of trust.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all new students, parents and family members who graced us with their presence at the matriculation ceremony on this chilly day. May all incoming students always remember today’s joy and determined promise to live out your large-scale dreams at Yonsei University. Your future passage over the next four years will be Yonsei’s path, Korea’s history and the dreams of humanity.
Thank you.