Korean Job Discussion Forums

[machoman]

i haven't done S.

i've lived such a mediocre in that aspect. i mean, i've got a lot of weird and maybe interesting stories to tell, but they aren't things i'm "proud" of.

nothing i've done in my life has been special or extraordinary and it kind of makes me feel like "why am i even living?"

when i was younger, i had dreams of being a pro wrestler. if i had made it big in that business, that'd be something i could say i'm proud of. i was also into drawing cartoons and dreamt of having a syndicated comic strip, which is also something i'd be proud of.

i guess for me, it's about leaving behind some sort of legacy after i die. but.... i've got nothing.

what about you?

[Skyblue]

[bluelake]

In 2007, after twelve years of campaigning, I helped Korea regain a historic flag that was taken by the U.S. in 1871. Although it was as a long-term loan (10 years), we are working to make it permanent. I kept things I did low-key, but it soon took on a life of its own after that. Whenever I see the flag in a museum, I feel good about it.

http://www.shinmiyangyo.org

[redaxe]

I feel like I've underachieved a bit since college.

In college I double-majored in international studies and Mandarin Chinese, studied abroad in China for a year, did an internship at an Asian policy think-tank, wrote a 75-page thesis, won a prize for best translation of a written work from Chinese to English, and graduated cum laude with honors.

In the 3.5 years since then, I've pretty much just worked in Korea for a while, saved a little money, went through too many Korean girlfriends (no more kthx), played guitar in a punk band in Korea, and got my blue belt in BJJ. That's about it. No real "accomplishments" there, just work and hobbies.

I definitely feel like I'm not living up to my potential or making as much money as I could be making right now. I probably need to go back to school or something.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm kind of a douche.

[DorkothyParker]

I've accomplished exceedingly little in my life. My high points have been a handful of essays and poems published in puny zines and writing for my university newspaper.

Compare that to the previous poster who has done more in Korea than I have done in my whole life! Which I guess is kind of the point. If you continue to always compare yourself with others, you will be eternally miserable.

EDIT: Feel pride in who you are and try to be a good, kind person to others.

[Artris]

I'm proud of my father who has worked very hard to attain his PhD recently, and even more proud to have actually been a help to him: I found an elegant solution to a particular math problem he had.

I'm published, having worked as an RA at my university before graduation. The green bean casserole I made last night was amazing, I must say. Life changing even.

[nzbradly78]

Helped build a library and youth programs in a little town in Morocco.

Married an awesome woman and have two great kids.

Got an awesome job for next year in the Czech Republic that's going to be...wait for it...legendary. (Barney is my guilty pleasure, not something I'm proud of )

[Koveras]

In September I hiked the Bruce Trail, which is 800 km long.

[jack_b57]

Maybe I'm cheesy, but my main accomplishments have to do with people I've personally impacted and who have impacted me. Not so much achievements. And for the teachers out there, teaching a kid that there's a different way to see or do things, is no small feat. not at all.

[Robbo]

[quote="jack_b57"]Maybe I'm cheesy, but my main accomplishments have to do with people I've personally impacted and who have impacted me. Not so much achievements. And for the teachers out there, teaching a kid that there's a different way to see or do things, is no small feat. not at all.[/quote]
That's plenty.

[Louis VI]

The highlight of my journalism career was not the fact that I worked my way up to head editor of the only newspaper in town, running a three-person newsroom and winning national awards, but in a couple of good works I was able to do for the residents: a dying man thanked me for helping get his story told, a mother wept when public support flooded in at news of her sick daughter's financial plight, a corrupt mayor lost an election after reports of misappropriation of public funds, a local First Nations protest of the environmental impact of fish farms went national.

I am proud of the public service I provided as a newspaperman, not just in doing the job, but in going above and beyond in trying to make a difference. It was a tangible way to realize the ideals of my youth and it was - in some ways - the most rewarding five years of my life. But it was also a sham personally, as I was throwing myself into my career at the expense of my relationships, using work to avoid dealing with a five-year marriage gone bad, having little time for friends and family. It was half a life, really. Work and sleep consumed me, and it was no way to live long term I thought, unless I wanted to dedicate my entire life to work.

Teaching English overseas is also something I'm proud of, as I have worked hard to help people learn the language, getting better at it over the years, honing the craft, getting a CELTA and building off of that with ongoing skills development. The pride comes with taking a class of 12 students who can't spell 'cat' nor answer the simpliest of questions and within six to eight months having them read 'The Cat in the Hat', answering the 5W's and having conversations. I am also proud of some special classes that I've had for three straight years, having worked in only three hagwons over the last eight years.

In 2010 I am proud of the silver medals in debate won by students of mine, one 2nd year middle school and the other Grade 5 elementary school, both headed to the national championships in January. My debate class is high level, intense, committed, with them rising to every challenge, putting as much effort into it as I have. That class itself makes everything worth it. I am proud of them more than any specific accomplishments. I feel like a supportive uncle, a community elder and a team coach. Teaching is rewarding and something to be proud of when one does it well (which is NOT always, not with every class - but when all goes well, when the stars align, it is something special).

I have had failures as a teacher, indeed this profession is full of little successes and setbacks if one is attuned to them, but one doesn't regret one's failures, as the wisdom goes, one regrets things not done. In terms of pride: a hundred mistakes is justified by one success story. Something is better than nothing. What's worse to one's pride than a sense of having accomplished little, of wasting away one's opportunities?

[nathanrutledge]

on two separate occasions, my actions saved two lives.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I don't like to brag, but when I was 8, I killed 100 caterpillars on a rock and saved dozens of innocent leaves from those particular caterpillars.

[fromtheuk]

When I graduated from university I returned home to Nottingham. I had studied Psychology.

I had what I thought was a good idea. I printed some business cards offering my services as a counsellor and posted them locally. I walked from door to door all by myself.

I decided to use my parent's address as my 'counselling centre.'

Anyway, I got a call from someone that sounded desperate to see a counsellor (he must have been to want to see me). He arranged to make an appointment.

When he arrived, he told me his story. He was a teacher, his problem was he couldn't sleep and he feared he was going to die. I know this sounds ridiculous, but this is 100% true.

So, I gave him some general common sense advice i.e. poor sleeping patterns are not indicative of imminent death, but may be due to stress etc.

It was a 1 hour session. At the end he told me, 'That was the best �30 I've ever spent!' I'm proud of that.

Sadly, nobody else ever contacted me again to seek counselling. I printed and distributed 500 business cards too.

It cost me �26 to print the cards, so the business was still a success (I suppose).

[Died By Bear]

I have proudly read the entire series of the most famous accomplished, and always amusing Kentucker right here on these forums.

Ken Tucker has a history, and ours here at Dave's cafe was a good one. Long live the storyteller!



Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing, that's all that Kentucker left me, yeah,
But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,
Good enough for me and my Ken Tucker 4.