The one who has had many titles-The house mother

The one who has had many titles-Interview with the house mother

11b5

Soho Shim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             Curly hair set with a hair band. Looking tenacious, but sometimes looking cheerful and tender. Those expressions refer to the house mother (dorm parent), Joo young Park in KMLA. She is the one who makes us students nervous in cleaning inspection time. She is the one who makes us manage our lives autonomously. She is the one who makes us smile, be cheered up from mother-like advices.

             Although the house mother Park is very near to us, nobody exactly knows about her: her past life, her personality, and everything about her. Thus, I felt the necessity to know about a person who lives close to us and acts like our mothers. After doing a brief, informal interview with her, I was able to know some aspects about her. 

            Although she is now a house mother in KMLA, Park was called as various titles. All of those titles are deeply related to her personality, orderliness. When she was student, she was defined by the word “modest”. She didn’t like to violate the rules or regulations given to her (although she still knew how to express her own opinions). Her fondness of orderliness surely affected her future career. After seeing the TV drama “A war brother”, she was attracted to the dignified and temperate manner of the commander. As the normal military academies at that time didn’t educate the women soldiers, it seemed like there is no way for her to be a woman soldier. However, an opportunity to achieve her dream came when a poster about the recruitment of women soldiers was attached on the university bulletin board. She applied to the army, and after a harsh test, she became the woman soldier. Tough trainings and the man-focused facilities were hard for her to adjust to the life of woman soldier, but still, she learned a lot and gained a lot.

             “I think that the army has somewhat magical power,” she said, “No matter how a person was in the past, after 2 years in an army, the one becomes polite, self-regulating, and dignified. This is the reason why I wanted to join the army and the fact that I felt in the life of soldier.”

             After spending 9 years in the army, in 2002, Park was suggested to be the house mother in KMLA. Although she was in a high position in the army, she decided to get a title “the house mother”.

             “I have never regretted my choice to be the house mother”, said Park. “Although some people might think that managing all the problems students make would be laborious, I actually think that this job fits to me. I like to stay in one place, I like to stay up all night, and most of all, I like to talk with students.” With smile, she said, “Students are my energizer.”

             Now, as we students all know, Park is another mother of the students. She often gives admonition but sometimes gives advice. She feels content about her current job, saying that she feels like she is playing with her students, not working as a house mother. When asked about her future, with her neat smile, she said that she would do some volunteer work for others. As a proper student, as a vigorous soldier, and as a warm-hearted house mother, Park has done a lot of things in her life, contenting in any situation she has faced. Personally, I think she would be able to achieve whatever she wants, with her exactness, vitality, and humaneness.