The journey to find my true passion in life for children by Ha Ryong Jung
The journey to find my true passion in life for children
by Ha Ryong Jung Student of Harvard Law School
http://cafe.daum.net/weeklymonday/iSZz
Ha
Ryong Jung is a third-year Juris Doctor (JD) student at Harvard Law School,
pursuing a career in international children’s rights and child protection. He
holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of
Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He was born and raised primarily
in Busan, and he plans to continue working in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Law school had never been an option that I considered for myself – at least not until I repeatedly saw the importance of legal protection through my work. I originally went to business school for my undergraduate degree with the general hopes for working in international development and poverty alleviation through innovative financial instruments. However, my interest in working for and with children actually arose back in high school when I volunteered over time at a facility for neglected children in Korea. Every moment I spent there was incredibly joyful, but at the same time, I could not understand why the country’s system was not able to accommodate the needs of those children. Although I wanted to find methods of making long-term impact, I was also young and immature. I was not sure what I could do, so I decided to study the broad field of business and development, thinking it would be important to first understand how money flows.
It was not until I graduated from university and worked for a short period of time in the National Assembly that I saw how laws can make a practical difference in the lives of children. However, even at this stage, it did not occur to me that studying law could be a potential path. Shortly thereafter, I enlisted in the army and watched as my intended career turned into an aggressive profit-driven model, contrary to its original purpose.
So I decided to seek a different method of working on children’s issues, which led me to an organization under UNESCO specializing in international education. This wonderful experience reinforced my desire to continue my studies to build expertise, and it was at this point that I decided law school could be an appropriate option. I was seeing examples of how efforts to improve education could have a greater impact if the basic rights of children are protected. This made me want to do work that makes a difference at the foundational framework level, which would in turn strengthen the results of other programs for children.
Law school has enabled me to see the world in a different light. I was able to study a wide range of subjects and gain further exposure to government agencies, the UN system, international NGOs, and criminal justice systems (including the courts) around the world. I plan to continue working in the field of international children’s rights and child protection, particularly in juvenile justice. Building on the work I have been conducting in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste, I will be focusing my next few years on the diverse and rapidly developing legal frameworks of the Southeast Asian region. My only goal is to be of helpful assistance to one more child at a time, whether individually or systemically.
Throughout my life’s journey thus far, I have come to realize that there is no need to be afraid of trying out new fields of studies or work and that it is important to leave all doors open, especially since it is very possible that you might find your perfect career match later in life. I would encourage students to be their own drivers of their own dreams. I would also recommend learning early on how to appropriately filteㄱ information that is being received, but at the same time being receptive to genuine advice.
Although I have had very different experiences over the years, I do not consider any of these to have been a waste, even if they do not have a direct relevance to my current path. It is because of these experiences that I was able to build the skills and competence to perform any type of work, and more importantly, they enabled me to learn my strengths and weaknesses. I think it is important to keep in mind that in any setting, it is up to you to make the most out of that experience. If it had not been for my past, I would not have found my true passion in life. At least my passion as it stands now.
14호 2017년 10월 16일자(압축판).pdf