When I was in junior high school in Korea, I decided to train to be a professional golf player. I was in a special school which trained people to become professionals, and most of my days were spent practicing golf. It was hard work, and gradually golf lost it's appeal and became something that had to be done. The decision about my life changed and drove me here.

Playing golf all day long was hard work. Here was my daily schedule. I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and went to practice. I had a one hour warm up. After this work out, I went to school at 7:30. In my school we had a daily study hall until 9 o'clock. Next, I had to participate in two classes a day and this certainly didn't help me to improve my grade. Other people my age had to take 14 classes a day. They worked harder in their classes than me. When my classes were over the practice day started. After lunch I went to the driving range where my teacher was already waiting for me. My mom was always watching me. I really didn't like this at all. My practice lasted until ten o'clock. I struggled with my mom about staying longer at the driving range. I didn't want to be totally against her opinion. The result of this long day was that I had no free time. The daily goal was to hit more than one thousand golf balls. Twice a week I had to go the 18 holes with my coach and my team mates. When I finally came back home, I had to go to bed. There was no chance of studying for the next school day. My mom would scold me if I studied at night. She always wanted me to get rest for the next day. I really didn't like to discuss this with my mom every day. This time was not one of the happiest in my life.

The other thing that made my life very sad was that I missed a lot of things. I used to go shopping with my friends after school. When I became a student of the Talent Golf School, I had no free time at all. The truth is that I lost my personality during this time period. I had to cut my hair to a certain length. Also the dress code rules were really strict. I had the feeling of being put into another life. Most of my skin became tan and rough. I no longer looked or felt like a girl. Then I realized that I was missing so much, and while other girls of my age were talking about their favorite actor or giggling about guys, my days were spent in endless practice. I had no time for my friends, and all of them left me, and finally I had no friends around me.

I was doing a fine job until I went to high school, but then gradually I was very behind other golf players. I almost killed myself because I couldn't see any improvement. Worse, by then I had lost my passion for golf, and I wondered what I was doing there. I discovered that golf was no longer interesting to me. I was thinking it was better for me to quit golf. After I quit golf, I went back to school and focus on study. It's was not easy to adjust new life. Finally, I finished study in high school. Since my studies had been lagging compared to other Korean students anyway, I took the opportunity to go to America and start a new dream. I wanted to start again, and to find a new dream. It seemed that this was more possible in U. S, and that I would have opportunities.

However, I had to come to Canada because all of my family were planning to immigrate to Canada. I was scared when I first came to the Canada, but I learned how to take care myself and be independent. Also, I didn't know a lot of English, and I always spoke Korean. I think I improved English a lot afterward. I was sick of one narrow way of doing and looking at things, and I wanted to experience a larger world. This is why I am here! I haven't played golf for almost 5 years. I am afraid of playing golf now because I know that I won't be good at golf. I won't satisfy myself. Even though golf was very important, I don't regret because I gain more valuable things than lost. Maybe I will play golf when I get older, and I don't have to worry too much about how well I am playing. Sometimes I miss playing golf but I still don't regret my decision. I love where I am right now, I realized studying is much easier than anything else. However, I am very lucky to have opportunity to come here to this country, especially to BCIT. The Institution helped me to improve in many ways. I am very pleased to be here.

November 19, 2001