I met a friend today and realized that these days I can answer ''I''m studying the humanities'' to the question ''what are you doing?''. So when someone asks ''what are the humanities?'' I can say ''they help me establish my values.'' This is exactly what makes me feel rewarded taking this class: realizing how closely the humanities relate to everyday life. - ''Jaegul Jaegul'' humanities debate that changes my life / Jo Shin-woo, gap-year participant (gapper) |
Q.Please give a brief self-introduction.
Hello, I''m Jo Shin-woo, majoring in Northeast Asian Studies.
I''ve been consistently participating in debate competitions since high school, and while looking for another debate this time, I happened to find Korea Gap Year''s humanities debate class. Andsince I''ve been continually writing, literature is one of my areas of interest, so I joined this course without hesitation.
I was also quite active within school, but I increasingly felt frustrated and wanted to take part in external activities; I decided on this because I felt large-scale external programs wouldn''t offer much.
Q.So when did you first become interested in the humanities and debate?
It was really by chance in my first year of high schoolthat I entered a debate competition.I ended up participating. But encountering debate in the form of a competition was a big shock to me — an enjoyable and refreshing shock. So I continued to join. I met many people and through those peopleI was stimulatedand as I was stimulated, I gradually changed and started studying on my own. I also began writing from that time.
Q.It''s interesting that debate brought changes to your life.
Now I''ll ask about the class. What was the most impressive part of the course?
It was shocking just to hear the instructor''s introduction to the humanities.I used to think the humanities were vague and impractical, like chasing clouds,but after taking this class,I came to think that the humanities are the foundation of all theories.For example,people face moments of choice in life, and at those times they are most influenced by their personal values.And humanitieshelp with the formation of one''svalues.
Also, because the class was conducted in a small group, it didn''t feel like a class and the natural flow of conversation itself was impressive.
Q.What do you find fulfilling about participating?
I met a friend today and realized that when asked ''what are you doing these days?'' I can answer, ''I''m studying the humanities.'' SoIf they ask, ''What''s the humanities?'' I can say, ''It helps me establish my values.'' This is exactly what makes taking this class feel rewarding, I think. Realizing how closely the humanities are connected to everyday life..
Q.Which students would you recommend the humanities discussion lecture to?
Students who have the will and a purpose but don''t know how to go about it.There are many things they want to do and they feel they should do them, but that...HowThere are many friends around me who have lots they want to do and the desire to do them, but are confused about how to accomplish and achieve them; such friends would gain a lot from taking this class. Like me,Even just establishing one''s own values is a major achievement.
Q.Have you noticed any changes when comparing before and after taking the class?
I feel that setting my own goals has become somewhat easier.In the past, I had many things I wanted to do, butI didn''t know how to proceed.
But by taking the course, my sense of judgment became clearer and I was able to think about my values from various perspectives,I think these effects will continue to have a positive influence when I work in society in the future.
Q.I''d like to know your plans for the future.
I want to meet many people who share common interests. For example, friends who attended this lecture with me.
And ultimately, I want to become a writer.Whether it''s criticism, reviews, or a novel, my ultimate goal is to publish my own book.
Q.What does the humanities mean to you, Shinwoo?
"It''s the foundation of everything."
In practice, I participated in debate competitions often out of ambition, but facing real contests without proper learning always left me feeling inadequate. However, I think that to be truly satisfied, one must build up the theory — the humanities.
As I go forward in life, I''ll have more choices than I do now, and in working I will also try to acquire basic humanistic literacy. It''s not a direct effect, buthumanistic literacyBecause I realized how important it is to be someone who possesses it.
