Life is a Journey

Lucy Jeong

Laying under the pitch blackness, a little object twinkled its trickery of resembling a
star towards my eyes. I was able to free myself from the illusion once it started moving, and I
realized it was an airplane. Where is that airplanes destination? I wondered, but few years
later I found myself on one of the flights that took me to England, my first destination. Every
flight took me to a different point in my life, and changed it. This plane ride to St Marks is only
limited to seven tickets, with so many talented students in our grade applying for it. However,
with my leadership and global mindset, I believe that I should be included as one of the
candidates for this trip.
As the St. Marks School Exchange Program is a leadership opportunity, it is essential for
the exchange students to represent KIS and be the leaders of the KIS community. From being
part of Student Council over the last past year, and continuing on this year, I have gone through
the experience of connecting our students with the school as a bridge. Constantly hearing
students concerns, organizing school events, giving updates on the news of the school, I have
been actively involved and informed about KIS. Now these experiences that have accumulated
can help me act as a bridge between St. Marks and KIS as well. Moreover, having the
opportunity to be the Emcee for various school events like the Opening Ceremony, Building
Dedication ceremony, and Arts Festivals of KIS, I believe that I can represent the KIS students
with a collective voice, act responsibly, and organize the situation. Also, as the founder of the
You&Me club, I have adapted skills on how to turn innovative ideas into reality, how to
overcome difficulties, how to cooperate together, and widen my perspective.
People who dont travel cannot have a global view, all they see is whats in front of
them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they are (Martin
Yan). Before taking flights to places around the world and embarking on a journey to KIS, I was
just a plain, normal girl in a very small island called Jeju. However, by attending KIS, and
looking at events such as MIT students program and helping out KUEFI, I truly feel like I am a
part of international society. Once I realized the broader aspect, I was able to empathize with the
explorers in Scientific Revolution when they acknowledged that world is bigger than they
thought, a lesson from Mr. McClains class. I started to look at current events and think with a
global perspective, about the world that I live in. I also started to participate in Model United
Nations activities, which I have now continued on for three years. Last year, I was honored to be
awarded with the Global Leader Award. According to the St. Marks homepage St. Marks
school seeks to reflect the increasingly diverse world in which our students presently live and
live in the future. One of KIS Jejus mission statement is Promote responsibility to our
community and world; I can be that student, who can think and interact as global leader.
Already the environment within KIS has exposed me to many global leaders. However,
this chance with St. Marks School Exchange Program will be a real experience of being a global
leader. The diversity will bring all differences together and synergize the creative forces that I
will bring as well as the others I will work with in this experience. I can design my destination,
respect myself and other students in St. Marks, act responsibly, get global, open my mind,
navigate the present moment, think about the future, and serve others. The plane that I will get on
will really be one of the stars that I saw, and I will wholeheartedly thrive to represent the strong-
willed, passionate students of KIS.