When I first decided to become a dancer, my brothers worried about my future. They tried to dissuade me from this path, questioning what I would do once I retired. I didn’t want to think about it back then so I jokingly said, “You guys can feed me.” But now I have my answer.
One of my brothers used to study trumpet at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts. I admire him a lot for his amazing work ethic and sense of self-discipline. Before he went to Fei Tian, I never considered him a hard-working person, but I believe he changed after studying there.
When my brother returned to Korea for a year and a half of mandatory military service, he decided to end his trumpet studies. Instead, he took classes to prepare for a college transfer exam. Due to his outstanding English skills, he turned out to have an advantage over other applicants and students. When I asked how he had developed such good skills, he said that studying at Fei Tian helped him improve his English. With fluent English and a strong work ethic developed at Fei Tian, he was successfully accepted into Chungang University, one of the top universities in Seoul.
One day, I was talking with my mom on the phone. She said, “I can’t believe it! Your brother got straight A-pluses this semester!” In his senior year at a very competitive university, he managed to excel in every course.
Nowadays, unemployment among young people is one of the biggest social problems in Korea. A lot of people are jobless for years after they graduate from college. But my brother interviewed with several companies and secured a good job at a well-known company even before his graduation.
Seeing how my brother turned out, I have absolutely no worries for my future. Here at Fei Tian, I’ve seen the environment that helped him develop his strong work ethic that I admire so much. Not only am I learning dance and academics, I am also building my own work ethic with humility, self-discipline, and resilience. I am confident that my time at Fei Tian will help me mature and excel no matter what comes my way.