'I' is a beautiful word that can be used to refer to oneself. As it contains no particular names, no characteristics, and no objects that can be paired with, individuals can fill it out with their uniqueness as if they are painting on a blank canvas. However, today people often forget about the true meaning of ‘I’. Instead, they have become more self-conscious and worried about not meeting expectations that others have created. Thus, many are afraid of failing or making mistakes even though this is a part of the natural process in achieving goals. To be precise, individuals are afraid of people’s eyes after the failures. Such a vicious cycle ends up decreasing their initiative and causing them to avoid taking any responsibility even through their career choices.
As a child, I was the center of the world. I felt that the world would stop whenever I fell asleep. Back then, it seemed as if everything in the world existed to love me. However, as time passed, I found myself busy living up to other people’s satisfactions and expectations. Criticism, condemnation, compliment, and advice play important roles when dealing with problems that have a certain frame. However, there cannot always be a right answer when it comes to designing one’s path. In other words, it is important to accept advice discriminately and take a lead in building one’s life.
Yet, there are various social issues that individuals have to get involved in to solve. Additionally, the school has been encouraging the students to become global leaders in globalized societies. However, such altruistic attitudes become more meaningful when an individual pursues their happiness, understands themselves, and knows how to lead themselves before helping others achieve their happiness.
Facing yourself and finding a true meaning of ‘I’ would be the first step in pursuing happiness and taking responsibility for your life. I would like to wrap up my career as the editor-inchief of the Hanyang Journal by asking a few questions to the readers as well as to myself: “How are you going to live? Who are you going to live for?” The true ‘I’ will be completely painted after we reflect upon these questions.