 |
Graduates with an average age in the mid-50s form the shape of a heart with their hands to express thanks to their teachers at a graduation ceremony at Nam Incheon Middle and High School in Incheon, Thursday. The school provides a program for those who are over 20 and missed the opportunities to complete their middle and high school studies. / Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye, Rachel Lee, Baek Byung-yeul
The end of February is when Korean students graduate from schools and universities.
Students prepare themselves for the next stage of their life's journey either in further education or the world of work.
However, things sometimes don't turn out the way people intend them to.
But as the old saying goes, "No one is too old to learn," as long as he or she aspires to. Moreover, when there is willingness to learn, age doesn't matter either.
Evidence of this is a special group of graduates who are an inspiration to everyone.
Grey haired graduates
Last Tuesday, at Ssangback Elementary School in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, five 71-year old men attended their graduation ceremony which they had postponed since adolescence because their families hadn't been able to pay three "doe" (a traditional Korean unit of volume equal to 5.4 liters) of rice at that time. This had to be given to local authorities to enable children to attend and graduate from school.
"Another man who couldn't receive his diploma because he couldn't pay three doe of rice called me one day. We looked into it and found there were 14 men in a similar situation. During the ceremony, five graduates who survived the 1950-53 Korean War sang the school song with other graduates of a similar age with their grandchildren, which touched other guests who attended the ceremony.
In Incheon, 340 students, mostly in their mid-50s, graduated from middle and high schools on Thursday.
Nam Incheon Middle and High School held a graduation ceremony to celebrate the 158 middle school graduates and 182 high school graduates who accomplished their dream of getting an education.
The school has provided the middle and high school education programs for adults who are over 20 since 1999, which can be finished in two years respectively.
"Many adults living in Incheon come to our school after they hear the news that there is a school providing such a program as this," said Choi Woo-sook, vice principal of Nam Incheon Middle and High School.
As the students all aspire to learn, many of them shed tears when they received the diploma. Among 340 graduates is a student who graduated as high school class valedictorian, struggling against a cancer.
Kim Soon-ja, 57, said in a phone interview with The Korea Times, Friday that she started to study because not graduating from middle and high school was a "lifelong regret."
Kim who was born to an extremely poor family couldn't get support to continue her studies. "Back then, as a girl from a poor family, I had to work to pay for my elder brother's tuition right after I graduated from elementary school. There was no other way at that time," she said.
"I developed liver cancer and had a big operation, so my husband and daughter worried about me very much," Kim said.
"When I was in the second grade in high school, my health got worse and the doctor advised me to take time off from school."
But Kim has now graduated from school with a top score thanks to active support from her husband. Kim study Korean language and literature at Korea National Open University in March.
"At first I planned to specialize in social welfare to become a social worker, but my daughter dissuaded me from this saying that I should be in a position to be protected, not to protect others, when I graduate from university," Kim said.
Kim said that she was happy to complete her studies again and to attend the university at such an old age. She gave thanks to her husband who supported her dedicatedly.
"Without my husband's help, I couldn't get the opportunity to be a freshman in the university at this age," Kim added.
No one is too old to learn
Kim Sung-mi thought she was bit too old to study at university; she has three children, and always had a stack of housework to do.
"The moment came when I started feeling absolutely miserable," said the 57-year-old mother. "I didn't want to spend the rest of my life being stuck at home feeling exhausted and depressed," she said.
Kim then decided to apply for a university course in 2007.
"It had always been my wish to study at college. I wasn't in the position of asking my parents for further education due to family circumstances. I am truly happy and proud of my achievement," she said.
It was never easy for her to catch up the fast-paced teaching schedule. She felt it was too much for her and it got her thinking about whether she should give up on it.
"I stayed up countless nights revising for exams, but it felt as if I was doing it for nothing. There was absolutely no progress no matter how much I tried," Kim said.
Thanks to full support from her husband and children, Kim was able to overcome an unimaginable amount of stress and other difficulties she faced during her six years of study.
"I finally become a graduate at the age of 57. I can't be happier. I honestly thought it was impossible for me to get over it," Kim said.
"You know, I think there is nothing you can't do in this world. All the hard work pays off. At the moment, I am considering applying for a postgraduate degree next year. Some of my friends think I am out of my mind, but it's just the way I live my life. I don't think it's too late. I am starting a new life."
Overcoming disabilities
On Feb. 15, Incheon Hyegwang School for the Blind produced a total of 51 graduates at elementary and high school level.
Five students from its three-year high school level successfully entered universities. Among those, Kim Jin-young will study sociology in Yonsei University, while Lee Bo-hye plans to major in traditional Korean music in Chung-Ang University.
Min Byung-ho, who was in charge of consulting on their admissions, cannot conceal his joy about new challenges and opportunities of his students.
"They did more than I expected. I am so glad and thank them for this," Min said.
He recalled the moment he first saw them.
"I taught them since they were first year students. At the time, they seemed to be without hope. But they quickly found what they wanted to do and finally met these results," he said, adding that, although it was a lot of work to care for them, he is so happy now.
Seoul Aewha School is for hearing-impaired people and its graduation ceremony on Feb. 14 was communicated in sign language.
Nine graduates from its majoring course have learned computer related skills such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) for a year.
"They will move to the Vocational Competency Development Center in Ilsan and learn more skills in the more intense course for about a year. Then, they will get a job and move forward in society," said Byun Pil-sup, one of four teachers who taught them.
"Most students were in their 20s. I felt really great as I could feel that I helped them shape their futures," Byun said.
