20 professors who devoted themselves to Ewha’s education and research are leaving the beloved campus on Aug. 31. Two retiring professors shared their stories with Ewha Voice.
Make sure you know what makes you happiest
Professor Song Ki-jeong taught in the Department of French Language and Literature at the College of Liberal Arts, striving to improve French literature education. However, she did not plan to become a professor from the beginning.
In high school, Professor Song was deeply interested in reading French novels, especially French literature. She did not think twice about choosing the Department of French Language and Literature as her major when she went to college. Professor Song also dreamt of being a career woman and wanted to live in a house with her own study, but she did not picture herself standing in front of a class.
As much as Professor Song had genuine love and passion for literature, she emphasized having their own thoughts and imagination to the students. She used to give out creative tasks as class assignments, such as creating plays, musicals, paintings, photographs, and music based on what students learned in literature. Recalling memories from back then, Professor Song mentioned that there were a lot of interesting pieces from the assignments. She believed that the assignments would have lasted as strong memories for the students at that time.
“I enjoy reading, writing, and translating books, I will continue to do what my heart desires the most after retirement,” she said. “It is nice to be able to do what I genuinely love without the burden of preparing for classes.”
In particular, Professor Song is planning a novel translation of the 19th French novelist Honoré de Balzac, which she has studied intensively throughout the years. Specifically, she is looking forward to translating more than 90 books of Human Comedy by Honoré de Balzac.
Leaving the loving campus of Ewha, Professor Song left two messages for Ewha students: listen to your inner voice and look back on yourself.
“Listen to the voice of your heart and make sure you know what makes you happiest, and go for it,” she said. “Also, when conflicts arise, look back on yourself before blaming others. Walk in each other's shoes, and remember that without self-reflection, one loses the past and is dead for the future.”
Internalize self-confidence through small wins
For 27 years, Professor Kang Hye-ryun has taught students in the College of Business Administration at Ewha School of Business, pioneering in the field of Women and Management, developing and spreading Family Friendly Corporate Policy in Korea.
However, it was not that she took a huge interest in business from a young age. In the early and mid-1970s, when she was in high school, she barely knew about business administration. Following the advice of studying business administration in the future from her older sister who was majoring in natural sciences at Ewha at the time, Professor Kang entered Ewha School of Business.
During her undergraduate years, Professor Kang had about 40 colleagues, many of whom dreamed of getting a job at a bank or becoming a teacher at a commercial school. However, she did not happen to be one of them. It was difficult for a woman to get a job until the 1980s, which led to fewer than 10 colleagues securing a job among their peers at the time of graduation.
Instead, Professor Kang dreamed of studying abroad. She attended early morning classes at English academies throughout her undergraduate years and went to the United States. to study. She completed her MBA and became a Doctor of Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology. Looking at I/O psychology doctors being appointed professors at famous business schools in the U.S. by providing a theoretical foundation for the field of personnel organizations, Professor Kang imagined herself as a professor pioneering new fields.
Until now, Professor Kang remembers how excited she was to return to the campus of Ewha as a professor. She was deeply impressed to teach Ewha students in a building where she once studied as an undergraduate. Professor Kang thought Korean female managers were underestimated compared to their abilities. So when she taught Ewha students, she specifically emphasized that the field of personnel management is an area where women can exercise their capabilities in organizational management.
“Along with the tradition of Ewha over 130 years, the perspective and expectations of Ewha students and Ewha community in our society are exceptional,” she said. “Whatever job we have in any field, it is important to have a sense of calling as pioneers in our society who have taken the lead in women’s education. Rather than expecting grand goals and achievements from the beginning, I suggest internalizing self-confidence and reward through small goals and practices–small wins.”