30 Things About Me

1.       Physics

Physics is my major subject. Since I read a science cartoon book about elementary particles, I have been greatly interested in physics and studied hard. When I was in the middle school I participated in the Physics Olympiad. These days I do researches on specific physical phenomenon and join in physics debate tournaments. The phenomenon has been there since the creation of the universe, and I, a tiny creation, strive to find its secrets. I feel joy when my theoretical model corresponds with the phenomena, and when I find an unknown, buried aspect of it which needs my rescue of research. A joy of a young physicist!

2.       Floating Ping-Pong ball

A Ping-Pong ball can float on a tilted airstream. This was one of the phenomena I have ardently researched last year. I remember the amazing process I have undergone to explain the oscillations of the ball, establishing, breaking, then revising the models relentlessly. I also remember the nervous and exciting moments of the final round of Korea Young Physicists’ Tournament, where I showed the presentation of my six-month research and debated with the opponent team and judges. Moreover, the research is not finished: its spin seems to demonstrate the effects of the Earth’s spin. Floating Ping-Pong ball certainly has a huge meaning in my high school life.

3.       Hip-hop

I have listened to hip-hop for more than four years. I possess more than thirty albums, and listen to almost every work of underground hip-hop musicians. Elaborate manipulation of language on the strong, vibrant beats fascinates me. Its spirits greatly influenced my attitude to life.  

4.       Independence

As a student who lives in a dormitory, I try to be independent. I complete my business by my own, and reject to be interfered by others. Some people might view this as stubbornness, but I believe that independence generally had a positive role on my life. For example, while all the other kids went to expensive hakwons to get 5 on APs, I declared to my mother that I will study alone and prove my legitimacy of independence by results. Guess what, I got 5’s on all six subjects I had taken!

5.       Straightforwardness

Straightforwardness is one of the hip-hop spirits that formed my character. I despise hypocrisy: I cannot speak with sweet flatteries only to please others. In other words, I cannot deceive myself. This made me sometimes seem disobedient to the sunbaes because I frankly disparaged their dogmatic behaviors. However, I do believe that straightforward people are trustworthy because their words and behaviors always reflect their true emotions and thoughts.

6.       Snapback

Snapback cap is my favorite fashion. I used to wear my flat-brimmed cap on whenever I go outside. I have four caps, and one of them is from the rapper Jay Park. I caught his cap when he threw it to the crowd in a concert. Well, I look cool when I wear it, don't I? Look at my profile picture!

7.       Mr. Kim Yon Soo

Mr. Kim is the guide teacher of our physics research club Hyewoomnarae, and one of the people who influenced me the most. He gave me one of the biggest ordeals in my life. His insults on my fundamental personalities were simply unbearable. However I cannot deny that those ordeals made me stronger and brought positive changes on me. Although I still am afraid of him, I might sincerely thank him one day. Well, everybody except me says so.

8.       Minjok Music Magazine

Minjok Music Magazine, or ‘3M’, is a music column magazine club. We wrote articles of anything about hip-hop and rock music in our blogs, and gathered and published them as a form of online magazine each week. As the vice president of the club, I wrote passionately. By writing those articles regularly, I could understand the hip-hop music more deeply and broadly. I also enjoyed sharing feelings and opinions with those who comment on my articles. Our club also had street performances, blending rock and hip-hop music. This is my blog: http://blog.naver.com/horraywwkd

9.       Basketball – middle school friends

Basketball court has always been a place of passion and true friendship. Most of my best friends are my basketball teammates, both in middle school and high school. Men exert biggest energy when they bang on each other and share sweat. True friendship forms when we absolutely believe our teamwork and pass the ball to each other. Basketball is still the most efficient way to get rid of the mental stress.

10.    Tutoring

I have always enjoyed tutoring my friends. In middle school I was a 24-hours-available private math instructor of my friend. I even drew geometry pictures on wet taxi windows to answer his question via phone. Partly due to my effort, the tens digit of his math score changed from 6 to 9. In high school I taught physics to nine of my friends in MPT(Minjok Peer Tutoring), and one of them even achieved the 1^st place, while I was the 2^nd. Anyway I have always been a passionate and effective tutor who satisfied my peer pupils.

11.    Juggling

Juggling is one of my special talents. I learned juggling in a elementary school club, and had big and small performances. The biggest one was held in the Seoul National Park, and the smallest one was in a nursing home, for community service. Although now I do not have official performances these days, having such skill is still a great advantage, in that I at least have something to do at a talent show.

12.    Responsibility

As a president or a vice president of more than three clubs, and as a participant of numerous group projects, responsibility has been a quality most needed to me during KMLA life. I believe I had enough responsibility to lead all those clubs and group projects, diligently working and sometimes sacrificing my comfort.  

13.    Earphone

I used to listen to music with earphone very loudly. My roommates sometimes advise me to reduce the volume, but I still cannot relinquish the joy of feeling the intense base drum of hardcore hip-hop songs. It feels as if I, not the rapper, am shouting loudly, and getting rid of all kinds of burden. I’m just worried if I should wear a hearing aid when I become old.

14.    Petition of appeal

I am very proud of myself to having been the first person to submit petition of appeal on the school court and be declared innocent. I was wrongly accused by the houseparent, so I submitted the final defending speech. However, the court rejected it because I had no evidence that I was innocent. I went indignant and submitted a 1000-word essay as a petition of appeal, which mentioned about the fundamental rules the judiciary must keep, such as the principle of legality. This was revolutionary because the petition of appeal system existed but was never practically used. In the second trial I was declared innocent, and I won at the end.

15.    Math

As a science and math kid, I have listened to the most difficult math classes in KMLA, such as linear algebra, abstract algebra, and differential equations. Mr. Hinde often gave us extremely challenging problems in quizzes, and I enjoyed striving to find the right answer with the shortest solution. Math is also a big part of my academics.

16.    Slow-jam

While I listened to hip-hop I naturally became accustomed to another genre of black music: slow jam. Slow jam is slow and sticky music of sexy lyrics and atmosphere. It really fits my taste. I enjoy letting myself sway free inside its groove and sexy mood. D’Angelo and Frank Ocean are famous foreign slow jam artists

17.    Jaw line

Jaw line is my body part which I am very confident of. It is as sharp and straight as a razor blade. It completes my beautiful profile.

18.    Nose bleed

Since I was a little child I suffered from rhinitis. My nose became weak because I blew my nose so hard and often. My nose bleeds not only when I am extremely fatigued but also when cold water touches my face. Once in two days my nose bleeds when I wash my face at the morning. Especially in test periods my nose easily bleeds and disturbs me.

19.    Has-been

I was once named as a number-one physics and math genius, a brilliant past. However, as I entered KMLA, I had to study many more subjects other than physics and math. Moreover, I met many kids much smarter than me. Now nobody calls me a genius anymore. Those who had called me genius now call me a has-been. I simply admit for this is the position I am supposed to be, but the nickname ‘has-been’ stirs complex feelings.

20.    Haptic phone

My nickname is ‘haptic phone’, for I turn on only by ‘touch’. I am a deep sleeper, especially at mornings, and it is impossible for me to wake up by hearing an alarm. My roommates have suffered from waking me up because the only way was to physically hit me hard. When I half-consciously woke up, they yelled “Get up, you stupid haptic phone!”

21.    Internet cartoon

Internet cartoon is one of my pastime hobbies. Every day cartoons of various genres are updated on the portal site ‘Naver’, and I subscribe about eight of them daily. It takes about 30 minutes every day to read them, and I know this is a big waste of time, but I cannot but keep reading it. It is a significant party of my daily life.

22.    Bouncy ball

‘Bouncy ball’ is a phone game I have been doing for about six months every honjeong period. My friends wonder when I will be tired of this game and play another one. However, as consistently as I am, the game is regularly updated and new stages appear again and again, so I cannot stop playing until the update finishes. This game explicitly shows my stubbornness, and perhaps, to a very positive-minded person, perseverance. 

23.    Guilty

‘Guilty’ is the title of my favorite song in singing rooms. I perfectly memorize the lyrics and can sing and rap fairly well. I even performed this song with a friend in Minjok festival. It is a song of a man’s parting words to his girlfriend, spitting out the complaints he have had.  

24.    Mental stress

As an ordinary high school senior, I have a lot of mental stress. Part of it comes from enormous workload, and the other part comes from the pressure of college application. Sometimes my parents contribute to this stress. I sometimes feel myself becoming more nervous and impetuous. I should try to resolve it by positive thinking and hobbies.

25.    Love

It is so lucky to be able to include love in this list. Although love sometimes does bring me into trouble, generally, it is always a source of invigoration, motivation, and refreshment. It follows with other beautiful values such as trust, patience, dream, and consideration. It gives lesson every day and guides me to be a more mature person. Although the school prohibits it, love is still a beautiful quality.

26.    Last farewell party

Last farewell party is one of the moments that come into mind when I think of happiness. I had to part with my middle school earlier than other kids because KMLA opened semester on February. At my last day, my classmates prepared a surprise party for me. When I entered the classroom knowing nothing, the classroom was filled with balloons and there was a cake on a desk and there were messages to me on the chalkboard. It took me a while to realize that this party was for me. I was so moved and swore to myself that I will never forget these friends. I realized that I was a beloved one. It was certainly one of the happiest moments in my life.   

27.    SIGMA Community service

SIGMA is a community service club that teaches elementary school children math and science. I taught math to 13-years-old kids. Although they were easily distracted and were far from smart, I enjoyed arousing their curiosities and seeing their beautiful limpid eyes. As a vice president of the club, I passionately taught the kids and improved the club’s system. Even now I am planning to make an effective teaching material for the club.

28.    Galaxy TAB

It is very unusual to use a huge 7-inch tablet as a phone. Therefore my Galaxy TAB has been some kind of my symbol for two years. Although its size seems overly big, it surprisingly fits into most of the pockets, and big screen offers great convenience. Now it is too old: it often malfunctions and is being disintegrated. It does not gather my friends’ attention anymore. However, I still feel affection for this gigantic cell phone.

29.    Fingers

My fingers are really pretty. They are also the body parts I am proud of, as well as my jaw line. My fingers are long, and fingernails are round and handsome. Even those who say I’m ugly may not be able to deny the beauty of my fingers.

30.    Friends and family

The most banal cliché ever, but it is still so true that my friends and family are people who influenced me the most. I always learn a lot from relations with them. I often feel grateful to the love and care they provide to me, and feel sorry that I do not compensate enough. They are really precious in my lives.