My second grade high school mathematics teacher helped me to become a good student. He was 29 years old, small, but not stout. He looked very smart, and really was. He was the greatest teacher in my life.
        At that time, I was sick and tired of studying. I didn't understand why I had to study. I nearly deviated from the right path. I thought I had studied hard before, but I didn't want to study any more. At that time, we had to study in the classroom after class ended until 10:00 pm. I had done that before, but I didn't want to do that any more. After finishing school, I ran away. I wanted to go anyplace where I had never gone before. At that time, I just went to church on weekends, and I just went to school on weekdays. That's it. So I began to go to game rooms, roller skating arenas, etc. I had saved money from the time I was a child, but I stopped it. That money was about 560,000 won. I spent that money after school in about six months. I was whipped sometimes, but I didn't care.
        One day, he didn't teach us mathematics in the class. Instead of that, he told us his life story. He said he had experienced a lot of things as a student. His family was really poor. He had often not been able to eat food when he went to school. He had to work at a part-time job to continue his study. He said when some friends spent money for food, games, etc. He had thought if he were them, he would be really happy. But he didn't run away from his life. Instead, he studied hard for a better life in the future. I don't remember his story well now, but I was very moved by his story. Though it was just a pitiful story like a TV drama, I didn't understand why I was very moved. But  I realized I was wrong, so I had a sense of shame. So I tried to change my wasted life for a better one.
        Sometimes I asked my teacher something, and he advised me about what I should do. For example, he said, "Read a lot of books. It will help you much in the future" and "If you are bored with your lifestyle, try to change your lifestyle." Especially, he advised me to play any sports. Now, my hobbies are to read books and to play table tennis. I went to my high school on Teacher's Day one year after graduation. That was the last time I met him. I had to serve in the army for three years, and I went to the high school on Teacher's day four years after graduation, but I couldn't meet him again. I just heard he had quit and gone to his hometown. I wondered why he quit, so I asked an English teacher whom I knew. The English teacher explained to me.
        One day, he ordered his ordered to do homework.. The next day, a few students didn't do their homework. At the moment he whipped a student, the student grabbed his paddle, and shouted at him, "Don't whip me. Why did you do that?" And the student swore at him. He often experienced some cases like that for one month. The english teacher said, "It seemed to be a real shock for him. One day, he resigned his position and went to his hometown." So I didn't meet him anymore after that.
        I will never forget hearing my teacher's advice for my life. I will respect him throughout my whole life. I'm sure that he has been an important influence on my life. I hope to meet him again in the future. If I could meet him again, I will grab him and shout, "You are the best teacher. You changed my life. Thank you sir."