I always want to say that even in tough conditions, do not give up!"
What do you first think about if you hear the word 'school principal'? Some might say that the school principal is scary and fearsome and others might say that they don't really have any thoughts about him or her.
Well, have you ever imagined how the school principal must have lived when he or she was a middle school or high school student? Probably, no one has ever imagined how the principal of their own school lived when they were a child. So, right here, Kis News Link is going to tell you about how Principal Kim Won-Gyeun lived as a student.
(1) What was the most memorable thing when you were a middle school student?
The most impressive memories that I had when I was in my childhood was certainly when I went on a school field trip. When I went on a school trip, I had to take a train and a boat, but that really made me interested in engineering and being a captain of a boat in the future. Other memories from middle school was the fact that I took military classes. That was a time when the war in Korea ended a few years prior, so it was essential for all the students to take that class at that time.
(2) Do you have any advices that you want to give to the students bases on your middle and high school experiences?
Well, as I said, I actually lived in very hard and difficult conditions when I was small because it was after the 6.25 war and when Korea wasn't developed as it is right now. My family wasn't that rich and I had to study alone in Seoul because of money problems. I always studied in the city library where I lived and finally succeeded in passing the employment test for becoming a teacher. I always want to say that even in tough conditions, do not give up.
In addition, to find your dreams for the future, you must experience many things as you can. There's a saying that 'You know as much as you see.'.
For example, I mentioned already, but when I dreamed of becoming an engineer or a captain, it was possible for me because I got to know that they exist as jobs during my field trip. Like this, you must do your best to go through many events to search for a perfect dream that you could be happy with.
(3) You said that you dreamed of being a captain or an engineer when you were a child. Then what made change your dream to becoming a teacher?
The biggest influence given to me that made my dream change was my 12th grade homeroom teacher. He really looked cool and smart to me which made me want that job too. Other than that, I've decided my way as a teacher firm due to my university professor who said that I'll fit with the job of a teacher. This year's my 33rd year since I became a teacher and as you can see, I am still working for our school and the students as a principal instead of a teacher.
(4) The student club system has been carried out for the first time this year. How do you feel about watching the students leading clubs by themselves without much help of teachers or adults?
I was really worried about this system when I first conducted this because I thought that the students won't participate due to the lack of time. However, when I saw that our students formed 18 clubs in just a few days, I realized that the students needed this kind of program and it was just that there wasn't anyone providing it. Because of that, I was very proud of the students, but the most lacking part of this year's student club system was connections with companies in the community.
It's not due to the students but because we weren't able to connect the students to more diverse companies. So next year, I'm planning to help the students out much more than this year to arrange opportunities for more experience through local internships.
Also, I'm thinking of increasing the range of the budget given to student clubs. After all, most of the students who graduate KIS will eventual return to Vietnam in 10 years or so, and I think the investment of today will be good for the development of Korea and the students' futures.
Well, have you ever imagined how the school principal must have lived when he or she was a middle school or high school student? Probably, no one has ever imagined how the principal of their own school lived when they were a child. So, right here, Kis News Link is going to tell you about how Principal Kim Won-Gyeun lived as a student.
(1) What was the most memorable thing when you were a middle school student?
The most impressive memories that I had when I was in my childhood was certainly when I went on a school field trip. When I went on a school trip, I had to take a train and a boat, but that really made me interested in engineering and being a captain of a boat in the future. Other memories from middle school was the fact that I took military classes. That was a time when the war in Korea ended a few years prior, so it was essential for all the students to take that class at that time.
(2) Do you have any advices that you want to give to the students bases on your middle and high school experiences?
Well, as I said, I actually lived in very hard and difficult conditions when I was small because it was after the 6.25 war and when Korea wasn't developed as it is right now. My family wasn't that rich and I had to study alone in Seoul because of money problems. I always studied in the city library where I lived and finally succeeded in passing the employment test for becoming a teacher. I always want to say that even in tough conditions, do not give up.
In addition, to find your dreams for the future, you must experience many things as you can. There's a saying that 'You know as much as you see.'.
For example, I mentioned already, but when I dreamed of becoming an engineer or a captain, it was possible for me because I got to know that they exist as jobs during my field trip. Like this, you must do your best to go through many events to search for a perfect dream that you could be happy with.
(3) You said that you dreamed of being a captain or an engineer when you were a child. Then what made change your dream to becoming a teacher?
The biggest influence given to me that made my dream change was my 12th grade homeroom teacher. He really looked cool and smart to me which made me want that job too. Other than that, I've decided my way as a teacher firm due to my university professor who said that I'll fit with the job of a teacher. This year's my 33rd year since I became a teacher and as you can see, I am still working for our school and the students as a principal instead of a teacher.
(4) The student club system has been carried out for the first time this year. How do you feel about watching the students leading clubs by themselves without much help of teachers or adults?
I was really worried about this system when I first conducted this because I thought that the students won't participate due to the lack of time. However, when I saw that our students formed 18 clubs in just a few days, I realized that the students needed this kind of program and it was just that there wasn't anyone providing it. Because of that, I was very proud of the students, but the most lacking part of this year's student club system was connections with companies in the community.
It's not due to the students but because we weren't able to connect the students to more diverse companies. So next year, I'm planning to help the students out much more than this year to arrange opportunities for more experience through local internships.
Also, I'm thinking of increasing the range of the budget given to student clubs. After all, most of the students who graduate KIS will eventual return to Vietnam in 10 years or so, and I think the investment of today will be good for the development of Korea and the students' futures.
Written by Choi Hyun Jung (G10)
Interviewed by Noh Jee Yeun (G9), Choi Hyun Jung (G10)
Interviewed by Noh Jee Yeun (G9), Choi Hyun Jung (G10)