대학신문방송국

Growing Into a Global World

Christopher Garland

Adjunct Professor of English Language and Literature

University is often described as a time of learning, challenge, and preparation. But for many students, it’s also a time of quiet uncertainty. As an educator, I don’t just hope my students do well in class. I hope they leave this place with the perspective and confidence to live well in a globalized world.

Each semester I teach here at Hanbat National University, I see students who are unsure about the future. Some are nervous about graduation, unsure if they’re ready for life beyond the classroom. Others feel pressure to succeed in a world that seems to demand perfect English, international experience, and constant achievement. That pressure is real—and it's understandable. But I want you to know this: you do not need to become someone else to succeed globally. You need to become more fully yourself—adaptable, open, and grounded.

The global world is not just “out there”—it’s already here. You experience it through the media you consume, the technology you use, and the people you meet. And the pace of change won’t slow down after you graduate. You’ll likely find yourself working across cultures, solving unfamiliar problems, and learning new systems. That’s not a failure of preparation—that is the world now.

So what does it mean to be ready for that kind of world?

It means developing a mindset that embraces learning, even outside your comfort zone. It means being able to communicate clearly across difference—not just in language, but in attitude. It means respecting cultural perspectives that are unfamiliar to you, and responding to challenges with curiosity instead of fear. It means being ready for anything.

It also means letting go of the idea that success only looks one way. In a global world, there is no single path. You may change careers, move countries, or work with people from backgrounds you never expected. The people who thrive are not those who have every detail planned—but those who can listen, adapt, and build trust with others.

These global skills are also life skills. They shape the kind of friend you are, the kind of citizen, the kind of adult you become. If you can hold onto your values while staying open to others, you’re already ahead. If you can ask honest questions and handle not knowing all the answers, you’re already growing.

Many of you are already stronger than you realize. You’ve learned to study and succeed in a system that challenges you, and you've faced pressures that many people in the world will never understand. Trust that the resilience you’ve already built will carry you further than you think.

And finally, remember: becoming a global adult isn’t about speaking perfect English or moving overseas. It’s about how you think, how you engage with difference, and how you choose to grow. Keep learning. Keep asking better questions. And keep building a life that’s open to the world—but still rooted in who you are.

If I could offer one wish for your future, it would be this: May you not only survive in a global world, but help shape it—thoughtfully, courageously, and with integrity.