I just finished reading an article I wrote about myself almost a decade ago. It reminded me of an essay I encountered in late 2022 about the...
I just finished reading an article I wrote about myself almost a decade ago. It reminded me of an essay I encountered in late 2022 about the life philosophy of Lauren Kim. I went back, found it online, and decided to post it here.
Philosophy in life will be different between people. Philosophy will differ from person to person based on their experiences in life, how it built up to be philosophy will be different, always. There will be times where philosophy can be similar, but never exactly the same. What can a 17 year-old say about life; where everything is fun and nothing serious? My life-long stories are my philosophies. In this essay, I will share my philosophies, although it’s not the same always, because my mind changes often. But currently these are my philosophies in life.
I believe being independent is one of my top philosophies, because I don't like to see myself relying unto someone else. I believe that it won't help any better, relying to someone else simply means that you're asking them to support you for your own comfort. And that's the last thing I want to do today. I've been mostly alone in my childhood days, well I have friends, but I was in my happiest alone. I did things alone, I enjoyed being alone. The reason why is probably because I did not want anyone to be special to me and leave me. I don't know. In this generation, women should have independence, I believe that it will be a big help for us, where people now are being open with women in the politics, organizations, and so much more. Independence is one of my belief to success. And it will always be part of me.
I believe in education. I am different to most of the normal teenagers. I enjoy studying, it’s like my hobby most of the time. I don't know why people look at me weirdly whenever I say I enjoy studying. I see education also a key to success. In life, things flow in a chronological order. I can't be a millionaire without education. It's like pre-school to elementary to high school then getting into a good college and getting a job then starting a family. It can never be starting a family then pre-school. However, there are really lucky person like Bill Gates who succeeded enormously, but not everyone gets to be lucky as him, the ratio is too big. The answer is education. All the hard work will pay off 100%. So, I believe that our lives ahead are somehow dependent on education.
I believe in our purpose in life. I believe that everyone was given a reason here in this planet. No one should ask themselves those questions like "why am I doing with my life?" "Why am I still here?" "I don't have a purpose in life" because those questions can lead to something bad. I've seen it with my bare eyes. A very small part of the population may be put here for obvious reasons such as curing diseases and saving the environment, and the majority of people think that those persons are the only ones that are here for a reason. However, I feel that all people have a reason for being here whether they cure diseases or do a deed as small as helping disabled people. Numerous people do not realize what they are here for until they are older. And I always hope that they'll know that they are all worth living. I always encourage myself to believe that I am here for a reason, and I can make a change in my own way. That's how I let myself survive in this world. I have made wrong choices before like trying to kill myself, it was not worth a bit. I regret doing it until today, it's not the best way to get through those. One quote that really inspired me is written by a girl, 14 years old, named Abby Miller. "I'm just a person, a kid, there's nothing much I can do because I'm just a drop in a sea full of people, but every drop can added can start a ripple which can start a wave of change. No matter what the outcome is we will always be that drop that starts that ripple that creates that wave that will reach so many people beyond our vision, so what's a better time that now to start our wave?" This quote inspired me to strive more, because if this kid thinks that she can make a change despite of age, why can't I? Nothing is more important than our existence.
I believe in the quote of Buddha "Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." For me I interpreted this as the word itself. We should not dwell in the past since it has been done and gone. Its finish, there is nothing we can do in the present beside laugh it out. Let's not dream about future, sometimes it can hurt you when we don't meet expectations. And lastly, let us all concentrate in the present, where we can make a change for our tomorrow, and not dwell it out, and we can bridge it for the future. Life is short, I think that wasting our time thinking about the past and daydreaming about the future is really not wise in using our time. Instead, we can just try better now. We should concentrate on today. Work on making today what it should be...because tomorrow isn't here yet and yesterday is gone forever.
I believe moderation is a way of living life the fullest. Yes, it contradicts. Cause living in moderation means not living life passionately. But I believe that passion can be found in the effect of loving it, and moderation makes it a life-long serious thing of doing it passionately. I can't really explain my opinion about this, it's somehow very complicated. But I have the idea. Some may think moderation is boring for them, that it won't fit their lifestyle, but how about this? Moderation keeps life going in a safer path. And we like to keep in that way don't we? I saw myself in 6th grade where I never did anything moderately, I was a bad daughter to mom, and I was always in the principal’s office because I never stopped breaking the rules of the school. And there was a time where I saw my mom apologizing to the teachers of my behavior, and having only mom with me made me so mad that made me realize that I should stop whatever I'm doing right now and stick to what is right. So I did, I stopped breaking the rules, I stopped going home late, and there I started changing my lifestyle little by little, and right now I am happy of who I am. Studies when I need to, goes out with friends when there are gatherings, watch a movie once in a while. I see this as the perfect life for me. And I do it with all my heart always.
While writing this essay, I ran into some different thoughts about life. At first writing this made me think that there is no way I could write this, how I would know what life is, I have no idea where to start. But, here I am right now writing philosophies of my life. There are both positive and negative experiences that influenced me in writing this essay, and of course I couldn't write everything so I wrote those that stand out to me, that reflect who I am today. Now, I strive to live fully each day with moderation, laugh often and love romantically and I try every day to have more patience, to say kinder words, to gossip less, be a good friend, good daughter and a good person. And I try not to be too hard on myself when I don’t always succeed at those things. Then I try to remember that all I can do is try harder next time and learn from my mistakes. That is my purpose in life, to give laughter to other, to be a daughter to my mom, to be simply Lauren, and to be a student in SISC. Everything I do has a purpose, and philosophies are leading my way to be a better person.
MY PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE
Philosophy in life will be different between people. Philosophy will differ from person to person based on their experiences in life, how it built up to be philosophy will be different, always. There will be times where philosophy can be similar, but never exactly the same. What can a 17 year-old say about life; where everything is fun and nothing serious? My life-long stories are my philosophies. In this essay, I will share my philosophies, although it’s not the same always, because my mind changes often. But currently these are my philosophies in life.
I believe being independent is one of my top philosophies, because I don't like to see myself relying unto someone else. I believe that it won't help any better, relying to someone else simply means that you're asking them to support you for your own comfort. And that's the last thing I want to do today. I've been mostly alone in my childhood days, well I have friends, but I was in my happiest alone. I did things alone, I enjoyed being alone. The reason why is probably because I did not want anyone to be special to me and leave me. I don't know. In this generation, women should have independence, I believe that it will be a big help for us, where people now are being open with women in the politics, organizations, and so much more. Independence is one of my belief to success. And it will always be part of me.
I believe in education. I am different to most of the normal teenagers. I enjoy studying, it’s like my hobby most of the time. I don't know why people look at me weirdly whenever I say I enjoy studying. I see education also a key to success. In life, things flow in a chronological order. I can't be a millionaire without education. It's like pre-school to elementary to high school then getting into a good college and getting a job then starting a family. It can never be starting a family then pre-school. However, there are really lucky person like Bill Gates who succeeded enormously, but not everyone gets to be lucky as him, the ratio is too big. The answer is education. All the hard work will pay off 100%. So, I believe that our lives ahead are somehow dependent on education.
I believe in our purpose in life. I believe that everyone was given a reason here in this planet. No one should ask themselves those questions like "why am I doing with my life?" "Why am I still here?" "I don't have a purpose in life" because those questions can lead to something bad. I've seen it with my bare eyes. A very small part of the population may be put here for obvious reasons such as curing diseases and saving the environment, and the majority of people think that those persons are the only ones that are here for a reason. However, I feel that all people have a reason for being here whether they cure diseases or do a deed as small as helping disabled people. Numerous people do not realize what they are here for until they are older. And I always hope that they'll know that they are all worth living. I always encourage myself to believe that I am here for a reason, and I can make a change in my own way. That's how I let myself survive in this world. I have made wrong choices before like trying to kill myself, it was not worth a bit. I regret doing it until today, it's not the best way to get through those. One quote that really inspired me is written by a girl, 14 years old, named Abby Miller. "I'm just a person, a kid, there's nothing much I can do because I'm just a drop in a sea full of people, but every drop can added can start a ripple which can start a wave of change. No matter what the outcome is we will always be that drop that starts that ripple that creates that wave that will reach so many people beyond our vision, so what's a better time that now to start our wave?" This quote inspired me to strive more, because if this kid thinks that she can make a change despite of age, why can't I? Nothing is more important than our existence.
I believe in the quote of Buddha "Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." For me I interpreted this as the word itself. We should not dwell in the past since it has been done and gone. Its finish, there is nothing we can do in the present beside laugh it out. Let's not dream about future, sometimes it can hurt you when we don't meet expectations. And lastly, let us all concentrate in the present, where we can make a change for our tomorrow, and not dwell it out, and we can bridge it for the future. Life is short, I think that wasting our time thinking about the past and daydreaming about the future is really not wise in using our time. Instead, we can just try better now. We should concentrate on today. Work on making today what it should be...because tomorrow isn't here yet and yesterday is gone forever.
I believe moderation is a way of living life the fullest. Yes, it contradicts. Cause living in moderation means not living life passionately. But I believe that passion can be found in the effect of loving it, and moderation makes it a life-long serious thing of doing it passionately. I can't really explain my opinion about this, it's somehow very complicated. But I have the idea. Some may think moderation is boring for them, that it won't fit their lifestyle, but how about this? Moderation keeps life going in a safer path. And we like to keep in that way don't we? I saw myself in 6th grade where I never did anything moderately, I was a bad daughter to mom, and I was always in the principal’s office because I never stopped breaking the rules of the school. And there was a time where I saw my mom apologizing to the teachers of my behavior, and having only mom with me made me so mad that made me realize that I should stop whatever I'm doing right now and stick to what is right. So I did, I stopped breaking the rules, I stopped going home late, and there I started changing my lifestyle little by little, and right now I am happy of who I am. Studies when I need to, goes out with friends when there are gatherings, watch a movie once in a while. I see this as the perfect life for me. And I do it with all my heart always.
While writing this essay, I ran into some different thoughts about life. At first writing this made me think that there is no way I could write this, how I would know what life is, I have no idea where to start. But, here I am right now writing philosophies of my life. There are both positive and negative experiences that influenced me in writing this essay, and of course I couldn't write everything so I wrote those that stand out to me, that reflect who I am today. Now, I strive to live fully each day with moderation, laugh often and love romantically and I try every day to have more patience, to say kinder words, to gossip less, be a good friend, good daughter and a good person. And I try not to be too hard on myself when I don’t always succeed at those things. Then I try to remember that all I can do is try harder next time and learn from my mistakes. That is my purpose in life, to give laughter to other, to be a daughter to my mom, to be simply Lauren, and to be a student in SISC. Everything I do has a purpose, and philosophies are leading my way to be a better person.
--Lauren Kim
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