YOU OTHER READERS CAN’T DENY

WHEN A BOOK WALKS IN WITH A GOOD PLOT BASE

AND A BIG SPINE IN YOUR FACE YOU GET SPRUNG

WANNA PULL OUT YOUR PENS

‘CAUSE YOU NOTICED THAT BOOK WAS DENSE

READING, HALF-RIMS I’M WEARING

I’M HOOKED AND I AIN’T CARING

OH BABY I WANT AN E-READER

AND A MEANINGFUL METER

MY TEACHERS TRIED TO TRAIN ME

THAT BOOK YOU GOT MAKES ME SO BRAINY

”so hot”

I whispered

as I took my plate out of the microwave

When nobody talks to me, I just entertain myself.

14 YEAR OLD KOREAN JHS STUDENT’S LAST WORDS BEFORE HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

“나는 정말 죽어라 열심히 공부를 했는데도 성적은 오르지 않았습니다. 나도 좋은 성적을 얻고 싶었는데 엄마는 친척들이 있는 데서 나에게 모욕을 줬습니다. 내 자존심은 망가졌습니다. 교육만 강조하는 한국의 사회 구조는 잘못됐습니다. 다양성을 인정해주지 않는 교육 현실을 바로잡아야 합니다. 이런 세상에서는 더 이상 살고 싶지 않아요. 내가 하고 싶은 것은 따로 있는데 무조건 공부에만 매달려야 하는 것이 싫습니다. 성적으로 사람을 평가하는 이 사회를 떠나고 싶어요. 전 미국인으로 다시 태어나고 싶어요. 스티브 잡스를 만나러 먼저 갈게요. 엄마 아빠, 동생만큼은 자기가 하고 싶은 것을 마음껏 할 수 있게 해주세요. 마지막으로 부탁이 있습니다. 제 무덤에 아이팟과 곰인형을 함께 묻어주세요.”

I studied as if my life was on the line, but my grades did not get higher. I wanted to earn good grades too, but my mother spewed out insults in front of all my relatives. My pride was broken. The social structure of Korea which only emphasizes education is wrong. We need to acknowledge the fact that diversity of different types of learning is important too. I don’t want to live in this kind of world anymore. I want to do other things too, but being pressured to only study… I don’t like that. I want to escape from this society that judges and assesses human beings by their grades. I want to be reborn as an American. I’m going first to meet Steve Jobs. Mom, Dad, please. At least let my younger sibling be able to do what they truly want to the fullest. I have one last request. Please bury me with my iPod and stuffed teddy bear.