※ 아래 스크립트는 발표자의 발표내용을 그대로 표기하였으므로 구어체 표현이 포함되어있고, 

When I was little, I was a quiet boy who liked to spend a lot of time alone. Most of

my classmates at school would go outside to play football basketball, just like

ordinary kids do, but I would keep seating on my chair in the empty classroom,

writing down what I felt about my favorite story book. It was like there was a

private space just for me, covered with unseen glass.

My parents and teachers were not happy about my introverted behavior. For them,

kids are basically supposed to chat a lot and play altogether because that is the

key to making them social in order to become a successful leader. I was seen seen

as an abnormal kid. My teachers pushed me never to stay alone and, please, be in

a group just like your friends out there. As a little boy, I got so overwhelmed by the

pressure and even lost my confidence in myself. I, I was, I struggled to conceal

myself, and trying to take this stupid introversion away from me. I worked really

hard.

As I got in my 20s, I got a chance to teach young students in an educational

program for a while. The event was not just about teaching school subjects, such

as Korean, Math, Natural Science but it was also about building personal

relationship as mentors and mentees. I talked to myself, “Ok, This is going to be

another big challenge for me as an introvert. Keep smiley face, keep smiling face,

and keep talking, and never, ever do anything that makes me look like an introvert.

I have to conceal myself in order to make this successful. So, I tried really hard to

look like a person full of joy and energy all the time, approaching as many

students as I could. And even I made constant jokes to make them fun. But you

know, if somebody tries to act like another person, it looks that odd and unnatural.

After all, I failed to get as much attention as I expected, and it was a total failure,

I believed. "Damn…  I screwed up again.“

But, one day, a few days after the program, I got a phone call from one of those

students. She said on the phone, “Oh Mr. Jeong, I have a confession to make to

you. I haven’t talked about this to anyone including my family. Um, I got raped a

year ago, and I haven't talked about this to anyone because I was totally ashamed

and scared. Maybe you can be the one who can help me? I noticed her voice

trembling in a deep grief and fear. I answered, “Ok, thanks for being brave to tell

me. I can do everything I can to help you out. But let me ask you one thing. You

haven’t told about this to anyone for a year, but I wonder what made you think

that I am the person to share your secret with?” Then she said, “Oh. It’s because

during the program, I could see that you were paying close attention to the every

students all the time. I could see in your eyes that you were willing to take my

words, every single one of my words,  with all your heart. That made me think that

you are a person I can trust as my friend'

 This is my proudest story in my life that completely changed the way I see myself.

My introverted personality would not make me successful as a great talker, but it

makes me rather a great listener. This story of a girl who trusted me as a faithful

man taught me a lesson that I definitely deserve to be proud of myself right now

as an introvert who is always ready to lend my ears. 

Thank you so much.