18th Century French Philosopher Denis

¶ … 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, "Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul of great things." Describe one of your passions and reflect on how it has contributed to your personal growth.

Your grandfather arduously carried your mother on his back, trudging in water," was the way my grandmother usually began the story. Since I was young enough to understand her words, my grandmother painted for me a vivid image of how the Cho family crossed the river from North to South Korea during the Korean War. I could not help but yearn for human rights to manifest in North Korea. I was only six at the time. It wasn't until recently that I became actively involved with a non-profit, non-partisan, non-ethnic and non-religious affiliated group called LiNK (Liberation In North Korea).

What appealed to me first was the sincere and authentic passion each individual in the organization exhibited, as they were committed to fighting for human rights in North Korea. Because of their passionate beliefs, I can now envision that one day North Korea will open up to the rest of the world. Being part of LiNK not only has heightened my awareness of what is going on the depths of this communist country, but it has also allowed me to make life long connections with people fighting for the same cause. We educate the world about North Korea, advocate for human rights, political, and religious freedom, and provide humanitarian aid for North Korea. This organization has also allowed me to empower Korean citizens to take effective action and make a difference.

Although the changes will not be noticeable overnight, and the commitment to North Korea is a movement that will take both time and healing, LiNK has heightened my sensitivity to world events. Participating in NGOs has taken me outside my comfort zone, and because of this, after graduating college I plan to travel to North Korea and other foreign places to report as a news correspondent. I want to communicate what is really going on in the lost, the neglected, and the poorest countries; and through a glimpse of reality shown through my eyes, educate and motivate the public. My ability to communicate and convey my passion to other people has sprouted through my work with LiNK.

Having worked closely with the Cornell University chapter, I witnessed the development of leadership skills within me, skills that were both derived and discovered by my peers. Being an active member of various NGO's and other organizations has opened social doors for me, enabling me to share why I am in LiNK and making connections that will help us manifest our common goals. And because of the new discoveries about myself as an innate leader, I was able to gather together the knowledge and materials needed to hold a public forum at my previous university: Syracuse, where discussions and debates took place concerning the issues of North Korea. My confidence level increased a great deal as a result of these experiences and my willingness to share my passion with others. I have grown as a person and as a leader and I am confident that my actions will directly result in positive transformation in the world.