Dear President, How are you?

I am Lee Yeo-keum. I graduated from DIST recently and I am studying at Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences.

I am sorry that I haven't written to you earlier.

But I am very happy to write to you now.

Three years ago, when I decided to enter DIST, my friends were not impressed and my parents were disappointed.

But I wanted to break the preconception people have.

I wanted to show them the true value of working hard instead of the academic clique.

I knew about the opportunities to study abroad before I entered DIST.

And I wanted to make the best of it.

As I am studying in Japan and living a new life, I am proud of myself.

As studying abroad is a very special opportunity for me, I studied really hard.

The President always says that studying is interesting because it is hard but it gives true joy sometimes.

Because of that I overcame many slumps and hard times.

I really feel alive, you know.

When I have free afternoon, I sit on a bench in the park and I feel everything is new and fresh.

I am proud that I meet such challenges and I hope my happiness continues forever.

I know I need to work hard for that.

I want to become a wonderful daughter and return to my parents who have been worried about sending me to Japan.

It is a difficult decision, and studying is hard but I do not regret that I decided to study in Japan.

I live my life fully every day and it is too bad that time passes so fast.

Time passes faster here in Japan than in Korea.

It is too bad that a day is only 24 hours.

I wish that a day is 48 hours sometimes.

When I was preparing for the 1st degree Japanese ability test, people told me to work hard instead of saying everything will be all right.

To tell you the truth, it was really difficult.

I wasn't even proficient in basic Japanese and I was preparing for the 1st degree Japanese ability test.

However, I really worked hard to be successful like the saying, "No genius wins over a hardworking person!" Professor Jeon Chang-hwan didn't think I would pass.

Do you know what is the most memorable moment for me? It was when I received the pass notice.

When Professor Jeon Chang-hwan congratulated me, I thought I climbed up a high mountain.

I am teaching Korean to Japanese in the morning and evening these days.

It is one of my joys.

To shed my shyness, I decided to be outgoing as soon as I landed in Japan.

Now, I have many Japanese friends.

I am living my life fully everyday.

I became confident and full of hope and my dream came true because of DIST and I want to show off myself like a child.

I see everything in a new way.

And I want to be very successful.

I will really work hard to be a confident woman.

Thank you.

Due to the studying abroad program of DIST, I think I was born again.

On the outside, I am a frail woman, but I will show the power of Korean woman to Japanese people.

I will work hard to bring honour to DIST.

Thank you.

Like you, who always show the image of superb woman, I will work hard.

I will achieve my goals and return home.

I will cherish all relationships.

Have high hopes for me and wait.

by Lee Yeo-keum, Tourism management major