If somebody asks you who is the most influential person in your life, most of you are impressed with your parents. I am too. But, maybe people will think that it is a trite idea. I used to think so. However, finally I decided to be honest with myself. When I recall my short twenty-year life, there is no one who affected me as much as my father. Nevertheless, it hasn't been very long since I realized his affection. My father was born in Kyungsangnamdo in southern Korea. Usually people say that Kyungsangnamdo natives are very blunt and restrained. Maybe it is a stereotype. My father never expressed a tender feeling to me and my sisters. So my mother, my sisters, and I sometimes told each other he is a typical person from that area of Korea. When I was a teenager, I thought he really didn't care about me. But I sometimes became aware of my father's love through my mother's talk.
        After I entered the university I suddenly felt very free. I spent most of my time with my friends. I started coming home later and later. My mother scolded me severely. But my father looked like he didn't care. One day, my friend had a great party. I really enjoyed it, so I forgot to call home. When I got home, my parents were waiting for me. My mother was angry and yelled at me, and my father looked very upset. He had never lost his temper like that. He scolded me severely. I was so ashamed of myself; however, instead of making an excuse, I grew doubly angry. I was crying and saying that I knew he didn't love me. As you can easily see from my actions, I was immature. Now I know my behavior was babyish and I acted immaturely. But I didn't realize it at that time. My father didn't respond. He seemed shocked.
        The next day my father came to my room and he wanted to talk with me. He said he had a story to tell me. My father said his family lived in a small village. His father--my grandfather--was an industrious farmer. My grandfather owned many cattle and vast farmland. And he was a typical farmer in that area. My father was the eldest son, and he was expected to act like one. Moreover, he was an extraordinary student in his school. But he never heard his father's praise about his good grades. After he graduated from elementary school, he passed the entrance exam to go to a prestigious middle school in a big city a great distance from his home. He had to secure lodgings.
        He suddenly told me, "I was so young, alone without my parents, and nobody interfered with my life from the time I was 14 years old." Then he asked, "Do you know what made me study hard and what protected me from all bad temptations?" I answered, "No." He continued his story.

        When I lived in a lodging house, it was during the Korean War, so rice was very precious. I had to pay the boarding house fee with a bundle of rice every month. I went home once a month to bring the rice. Whenever I went home, my father just asked how I was doing. I always responded that everything was fine. Then he turned his back on me and went out to take care of his cattle and farmland. In order to go back to my boarding house, I had to walk a long way by my father's farmland to go to the train station. Leaving behind my mother's tearful voice and all my relatives' send-off, I started to walk the narrow path carrying a rice bag on my back. It was such a quiet and calm evening. But I was so sad and nervous because I was afraid of being alone again. All the farmland was golden, the evening setting sun was so luxurious, and even the birds had gone back to their nests. Everything was beautiful. I looked behind my home, but nobody was there. Everyone seemed to be unconcerned about me. I felt so lonely. At that time, I saw someone in the middle of the golden farm. It was my father. He was looking at me. After dinner, he said he had some work to do on the farm and he went out. So I thought I couldn't say good-bye to him. I shouted at him when I saw him. He was still looking at me and standing in the middle of the field until I couln't see him any longer.
        After he seemed like a spot, I knew he was still looking at me. After that, I never forgot the scene: the crimson sky, the golden farm, the cool breeze, and my father. My loneliness and my nervousness were banished. I was saturated with my father's love. He didn't say a tender word, but I realized he would watch over me forever. When I was tired and tempted by friends to cut my studies short, I remembered my father's figure. I studied hard and I succeeded in entering a university. That's the father I wanted to be. I love you, but I thought I didn't need to tell you. Already you know, I'll be watching over all your steps forever.