대학신문방송국

Sink or Swim, Let’s Go for It

By Park Hyeon-su Chief Editor, senior of English Language and Literature

In the old days, people used to sit with their family members and friends to play a game of yut. There is a saying that all or nothing comes from here. It refers to making a bold decision based on the expectation that the outcome of the choice may be very good or very bad, but it will be good. If all four of the yuts are not turned upside down, it becomes “Mo.” If only one yut is turned upside down, it is only a small difference. However, the effects of play are quite different. “Do” will only move forward one bar, but “Mo” will be able to throw one more yut to advance five bars. A small difference can create a great advantage. There is a similar saying in the United States: “Sink or swim.” This refers to a situation in which one swims out on one’s own and survives or is completely ruined, it’s life or death. It means to survive or perish without help from others, as you will die if you sink, and survive if you swim. Both seem like proverbs on black-and-white logic, but it seems that one thing is omitted from the American proverb, “Let’s go for it.” Let’s give it a try, whether we succeed or fail.

Human beings are either successful or unsuccessful, if they are in a two-pronged situation. If your plan is successful, of course it’s good, but if your plan fails, you may suffer. But, isn’t failure the mother of success? Failure makes a man big. One must have progress and failure makes one develop. So, let’s not be afraid of failure. There is no success without failure. 

However, some keep failing while others succeed. One person may live a life of failure, while another grows step by step and finally reaches success. What’s the difference? I think the difference that creates the divergent future between the two is whether he’s self-reflecting or not. People live their lives in their own way, believing in what they want to believe and seeing only what they want to see. But, those who succeed are different. If your way is wrong, reflect on yourself carefully. Introspection takes lessons from failure and prevents you from making the same mistakes again. To succeed, let's not put the blame on others. Let’s challenge ourselves, face failure, and reflect. This is how to become a bigger person.