President's Message to Sogang's 2021 Mid-year Graduates
발전홍보팀
2021.08.23 14:50:36
President's
Message to Sogang's 2021 Mid-year Graduates
August 17, 2021
Distinguished
graduates of Sogang!
Congratulations on
your graduation and a new start!
Our graduates from
Sogang University's undergraduate programs have dedicated their best efforts
without losing grip on their dreams and enthusiasm in the face of this pandemic;
our graduates from graduate programs have shown remarkable resilience while completing
research for their future; our international students have sustained their passions
for further learning in a foreign country; the parents of our graduates have
contributed substantial support to the growth of their children; our faculty
members and staff have dedicated themselves to supporting these graduates in
all possible ways; and, finally, all members of the Sogang community have provided
caring support both visibly and invisibly from wherever they find themselves. You
all are the genuine central characters that we celebrate today. I regret that I
am unable to be with you in person and ask for your generous understanding for this
contactless celebration.
In my life, I
happened to take up rock climbing as a hobby in my early forties. While I try
to climb along the gaps between the rocks that defy me, I get closer and closer
to the top of the mountain, and this process gives me a priceless sense of
accomplishment in overcoming my limitations. For any success in rock climbing,
I must continuously train my mind and body. With insufficient physical power, I
know that I cannot even hope to get in close contact with the rocks. Therefore,
for the last 30 or so years, my days have started with a workout at dawn.
Although I was physically weak in the past, I feel quite strong now. Thanks to
that, I rarely experience even minor physical ailments.
Rock climbing presents
a series of challenges. For each different situation, I have to explore new
methods of climbing in diverse ways. Sometimes, I take an untraveled route for an
added challenge. Climbing over rocks with unfamiliar movements sometimes leaves
my muscles numb all over my body, my heartrate quickens, or I may suffer from
dizziness. Walking along unfamiliar mountain trails, I can get injured by running
into unexpected obstacles. However, when I overcome all these temporary
challenges and reach the peak of a mountain, I gain an indescribable sense of
accomplishment.
In some sense,
life itself is similar to rock climbing. During the process of 'climbing' the
mountain of life, we often face difficult tasks or get tangled up in complicated
human relationships. Sudden challenges may dwarf us, leaving us on the verge of
giving up. However, those who train themselves continuously and embrace challenges
are not easily shaken in the face of adversity but manage to overcome it. Even
if they fail, they do not get discouraged or frightened by the prospect of more
failure – they venture on to encounter further challenges and, at some point,
they can find themselves at the top of a new peak.
At Sogang
University, you have learned sincerity and the spirit of challenge, and you
have built up excellent capabilities. You have committed yourself to several
years of study and research in resilient training of your intelligence, emotions,
and spirituality. Therefore, I am confident you will succeed as you continue your
ascent over the curves and obstacles of life in your journey towards the next peak.
Please keep endeavoring and challenging.
Graduates of
Sogang, you are our pride!
I would like to
emphasize one more thing that is perhaps even more important to note. As in all
areas of life, rock climbing is not a solo endeavor. While a lead climber
scales up a rock face, taking steps by hand and leg, the second climber
concentrate all his or her attention on guarding against a possible fall. If the
pair misses sharing every moment or gets distracted for even an instant, there
is the risk of an unexpected accident. Mutual trust and cooperation are
critical.
You are now passing
over a low hill called 'university' and moving on to a higher and tougher climbing
environment called 'society.' You may climb a low hill alone, but you can never
climb a high rock without help from someone. Only with reciprocal support from those
who accompany you can you climb to the top of the high mountain. At workplaces,
you will encounter new colleagues, form a family, and meet multitudes of people.
I hope you can empathize with them, respect them, and serve and dedicate
yourselves for the world we share and inhabit together.
Once again, I
extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all on the occasion of your graduation.
Thank you.
Luke
Sim Jong-hyeok, SJ
President
of Sogang University
