Last September 25th, Sejin Kim, who recently appeared on television as “the boy with robot legs,” visited Hankuk Academy of Foreign Study. The purpose of his talk at the school was to give students self-confidence and advice for the future, based on the experiences of heartache and hardships that marked his early days.

 

Kim recalled how he managed to live, beginning from the time he was adopted by his step mother. He was born with a right leg that lacks both a knee joint and calf, but his step mother made up her mind that he would somehow walk. To get a prosthetic leg suitable for him, he had to undergo six painful surgeries in which his bones were cut off. Rehabilitation was even more painful. His mother would knock him to the floor and force him to stand up repeatedly. These gradual efforts have made him what he is now: a great student and even a swimmer. 

 

School was also a challenge for this “robot boy”.  Even with his prosthetic legs, it has not been easy to maintain an ordinary school life.  His schools didn’t give him any favors or make exceptions. He received the lowest possible marks in his P.E. classes and he was penalized whenever he skipped classes for swimming practice. Feeling that he was not treated fairly, he quit high school and entered Sungkyunkwan University at the age of 15 as the youngest scholarship student, after passing the high school qualification examination.

 

Now, he wants to return the support he has received and share what he accomplished with people around the world. He gives advice to children in the orphanage as if they were his own brothers and sisters. Filled with gratitude, he also helped an Indonesian boy, Neldy, who is a similar situation as when he was young, He although he knew nothing about Indonesian language, that could not be a barrier between Kim and Nerdy. They could understand each other, for their hearts are in resonance.

 

He accomplished a remarkable feat as a swimmer, winning several gold medals in the Paralympics and he even participated in Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Rio Olympic. He advanced to the second qualification race and marked 40th out of 72 swimmers. Although he did not pass to the final race, he received much respect for completing the game without giving up until the last minute.

 

Even though studying and swimming take up a lot of his time, he found the time to visit HAFS and did not forget to say thanks to his mother during his talk for her warm care and strong mind.

 

It was a great motivation to meet Sejin Kim, who has given his all pursuing a dream and spreading inspiration with his remarkable story. I hope his words become a lighthouse for those who have lost their way in this world.

 

 

Lee Juhyeon

Grade 11

Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies