On Feb. 25th 2011, Commencement for GSIS Masters Degree candidates was held.
This is the Commencement Address from Jinhyun Paik, Dean of GSIS.
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Commencement Address
Graduates, faculty and staff of the GSIS, parents and family members, and friends and guests.
A graduation day is a day to celebrate. Some of you may feel a little nostalgic, or even sad,
about leaving this place where you spent two years of your life. You may have some uneasiness
or apprehension about the fact that you now have to get out of the cocoon of academia, where
mistakes are easily forgiven, another chance is generously allowed, and where you are trusted
and protected rather than doubted and pushed around. The world toward which you are now
embarking on is, I am sure, a lot tougher, colder and cynical.
I nonetheless believe that graduation is truly a moment to rejoice and celebrate. Indeed we gather
here to celebrate your achievement and perseverance. You have worked hard for two years.
You have spent many sleepless nights, worrying about exams and assignments, and agonizing
over your thesis. Graduation is the reward for all these toils and sacrifice. You deserve our warmest
congratulations, and you should be proud of what you have accomplished.
Two years ago, you came here, I guess, without knowing exactly what you expected from,
and made of, the GSIS. You must have had nebulous ideas about studying international and
regional affairs. Motivations of each of you to choose a particular major must have varied from
one to another. Now that two years have passed, what do you take with you from here?
Maybe, some knowledge and skills, memories, both good and bad, friendship, and of course
a certificate of degree . . . The truth is from the very moment you leave here, you would begin to
forget most of what you learnt here. Knowledge will slip out of your mind, memory will fade,
and even friendship may not endure the test of time.
Dear graduates, however, one thing I want you not to forget, and to take with you from this place
to wherever you go, is the commitment to international affairs; commitment to make this world
a better place to live for everyone and compassion to do something for those who are less
privileged and less fortunate across the world.
Three decades or so ago, when I was where you are, graduating from this university,
few told us that we were lucky to attend SNU. Korea then was poorer and oppressed.
Not many opportunities, at least not as many as now, were waiting for graduates.
While SNU was the best university in Korea then as it still is now, its status in the world
was rather obscure, and it was a far cry for graduates to dream about pursuing an international
career beyond Korea.
Now I can say without much hesitation that you are lucky and privileged to attend and graduate
from SNU-GSIS. Korea has become richer and democratic, and is a donor of development
assistance around the world. GSIS is on a par with leading graduate schools of international
affairs in the world in education and research. You have now the opportunities some of us
three decades ago did not dream of.
However, dear graduates, remember that along with those privileges goes the responsibility
to better the plight of the least fortunate of the world
Just take a look around the world. There are millions of people, especially women and children,
who suffer from war and conflicts. Somewhere in the world, every minute a child dies of hunger
or disease. In some African countries, 40% of the population is HIV positive, a situation
perpetuated by the absence of affordable medications and adequate health infrastructure.
Almost half the world -over three billion people- live on less than $2.50 a day.
The rapid spread of the “Jasmine revolution” in the Middle East and elsewhere over the past few
weeks is a testimony to the fact that in a large part of the world people are still suffering from
oppression and violation of basic human rights.
You should not turn your back on such injustices and human sufferings, no matter what you do
after GSIS. We realize that our ability is limited. We also admit that these challenges are too
big for each of us to cope with. However, I believe that together, there are certain things
we can do and differences we can make.
On this day of celebration, I urge you to become a responsible global citizen with compassion
for those in desperate need across the world. I urge you to rise above the national, ethnic,
and gender division and embrace the faith of common humanity. I urge you to understand other
nations and respect other cultures and religions. And I urge you, whatever you do or wherever
you are, to be responsible for the world because it is where you and your children,
and your children’s children will live.
Dear graduates, congratulations once again, and I wish you all the best with your life and career.
Thank you.