I first started playing ice hockey when I was in fifth grade. I went to watch my friend’s game, and the coach persuaded my parents to let me join the team. They wanted me to build strong discipline and physical strength, so I joined the team even though it wasn’t my choice.
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From the beginning, I practiced hard every day because I have always been the type to do my best once I start something. But the real reason I worked so hard wasn’t because I enjoyed hockey. It was because I was afraid of making mistakes. My coach was extremely strict and sometimes used physical punishment during training. Out of fear, I pushed myself to be perfect, and after only a year, I became part of the starting lineup. Yet, even at that moment, I didn’t feel happy or proud.
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I was someone who worked hard but wasn’t truly happy. I lived in fear of disappointing others, and my own will slowly disappeared. When I was in high school, my coach told my parents, “If your son doesn’t plan to go professional or play in college, it’s time to stop.”
 
With that one sentence, six years of my effort suddenly ended.
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That moment made me realize something important.  I had never truly chosen anything for myself.  It left me empty, but it also planted a seed.  One day, I wanted to live a life that I chose on my own.
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In 2020, I entered Purdue University. But because of COVID-19, all classes were online, and I took every course from Korea. Even though I was technically in college, it didn’t feel real. I had no friends, no campus life, and I spent my days staring at a screen.
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When I finally returned to the U.S. in my sophomore year, adapting was harder than I expected. It was my first time living away from family, and I struggled to fit into a new culture.I began to avoid everything: schoolwork, people, and responsibilities.  I fell into depression, and food became my way to escape.  By the end of that semester, I had gained over 25 kilograms.  It felt like life was punishing me, and I knew that if I stayed like that, I would completely fall apart. So I decided to take a break from school.
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After taking time off, I returned to Korea and started an internship at a company called Shinil PNS.  Those threemonths changed my life completely.
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I worked in the overseas sales team under my mentor, Manager Jung-Eun Moon, who told me,  “You may not see it yet, but you can change completely in three months.”
At first, I didn’t believe her. Everything was difficult in the beginning.
I had to rewrite every report multiple times, and even writing a simple business email took me hours. During meetings, my mentor corrected my wording and reminded me that in business, attitude and tone carry weight. It was embarrassing, but her feedback slowly changed how I worked.
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As weeks went by, I started improving. I learned how to organize client data, prepare export documents, and respond to feedback quickly. Every morning before work, I practiced English emails, and during lunch, I reviewed my mistakes and took notes to improve.
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Through this process, I learned more than just job skills. I learned responsibility, professionalism, and the importance of attitude.  Every day was exhausting, but that exhaustion made me feel alive.  One day I realized that I was no longer just following instructions.  I was solving problems and making suggestions on my own.That internship was the first time in my life I truly proved that effort brings change. It became the starting point of my personal transformation.
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After finishing my internship, I didn’t want to lose that momentum. So I began working at a Seoul subway station as a station clerk. My job included writing daily reports, helping passengers, communicating with train operators, and selling transportation cards.
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At first, nobody expected much from me. People saw me as a temporary employee who would quit soon. I hated that image, so I decided to prove them wrong. I asked questions even when people were annoyed, volunteered for unpopular tasks, and helped foreign passengers using my English and Chinese skills.
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After a few months, everything changed. Coworkers began to trust me, and one day a senior employee told me, “It’s hard to work without you now.” That sentence meant more to me than any award.
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Around this time, I also wanted to change myself. Seeing thousands of passengers every day made me realize that I too could start over. I decided to lose weight, not for appearance but to prove to myself that I could change. Through strict discipline and daily exercise, I lost weight from 120 kg to 78 kg. It wasn’t just a physical change; it was my way of saying goodbye to my weaker past self. I learned that willpower can be trained, just like muscles.
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During this period, I also discovered my passion for sales. Working in the overseas sales department at Shinil PNS had left a deep impression on me, but what truly inspired me was the joy of helping people in the subway. When customers thanked me sincerely, I realized how fulfilling it is to have a positive impact on others. That feeling, being useful to someone, gave me confidence and purpose.
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When I told my parents that I wanted to change my major to Sales, they were against it. They worried because Sales is an uncommon field in Korea and not well-known. Even at Purdue, I could barely find information about the program, and no other international students were majoring in it. As a non-native English speaker, I knew it would be a challenge, but this time, I decided not to run away.
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As expected, studying Sales was tough. In my first course, I had to find a real salesperson to interview and follow, learn about their product, and create a mock sales presentation. The problem was, I didn’t know a single salesperson in the U.S. Other students had family connections or friends in the industry, but I had to start from zero.
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So I picked up the phone and started calling local restaurants and stores near Purdue. Most people thought I was strange and hung up. But after around 60 cold calls, I finally found a salesperson who agreed to help me. That project became one of my proudest accomplishments.
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Because English isn’t my first language, I prepared extra hard by writing dozens of sales scripts, practicing expected questions and answers, and memorizing every detail.
In the end, I finished the course successfully and achieved a 3.91 GPA in my major, proving that persistence can overcome any barrier.
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All of these experiences have completely changed who I am. I used to follow the path others chose for me, but now I set my own goals and push myself to achieve them. Sales taught me more than just business skills. It taught me how to listen, understand people, and build trust.
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Just like how I lost 40 kilograms through small, consistent efforts, I believe personal growth also happens one small step at a time. Today, I no longer limit myself with fear or doubt. I continue to learn, challenge, and grow, becoming a salesperson who connects with people through sincerity and empathy.
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