There is a gentleman who has been an important and positive influence on me. He never touched me deeply, but we always had good communication, and he educated me in his special way. He is a good speaker and is like a teacher. My friends often told me that he is like a teacher, but I feel that he is like a good friend whom I have known a long time rather than a teacher. My mother told me that he was a real teacher in school, when I was a small child, a very long time ago. He was a heavy smoker, and I am also. So after I became an adult, when we discussed serious problems, we often smoked together. However, after smoking, he was sure to advise me that smoking is very bad for heath, especially to young people. He usually suggested that I stop smoking like that. I know it is impossible in Korea, and maybe Korean people think this is crazy behavior, but it is possible in my culture and my country. You see, the man I am talking about is my father, my unique father.
        When I was a child, my character was too introverted and shy for a boy; I was a very quiet boy and became nervous easily. Every time I took exams, I missed many easy question because I was nervous and didn’t have any self-confidence. Even in classes, when teachers asked me some questions, my face became red quickly, and I couldn't answer them. I still remember that when a teacher asked me some questions, my heart started beating really fast. But I am quite different now. Do you know what changed my mind? A long time has passed. I can't forget the day that my character started to change strikingly, which was the first mental revolution for me. That was when I was in the fifth grade in elementary school. Fortunately, I was elected as a participant in a mathematics tournament and represented my school. To be frank with you, the questions were easy for me then, but I missed many questions because I was too nervous. After the first round finished, my father came to me and whispered, "Hey, take it easy."
        "I know, Father," I said.
        "You know what's important is to do your best and not the results, son. Compose yourself. I'll be proud of and believe in you at any time, however you do," my father continued.
        After my father talked to me, I got self-confidence as a man, and I wasn't nervous again. Actually, my father's existence was a great support for me then, and of course, until now. Consequently, I did very well in the second round and got second place among all the participants, for which I myself was surprised. From then on, I have never abandoned my self-confidence, and I liked my father more and started to feel closer to him.
        The day before I left China, my father talked about a lot of things with me. He talked about my future and our family, and even when he was a student. I had never talked seriously with my father like then. But I want to tell you about just one thing that he said then. He asked me if I could play chess. I answered yes silently. He continued to tell me that life is like playing chess. If I take a wrong step, I'll be passive and broken in my life, and he advised me to be careful in doing everything in my life. Now, I quite understand what he meant, and I'll keep his good advice in my mind forever.
        Now, when I'm nervous or depressed and need some advice, I want to be together with him. However much I desire it, that is so difficult right now, because he lives too far from me; he lives in China and I live in Korea. But whenever I remember his kind smile, my last embrace with him, and his figure standing and waving his hand until I couldn't see him anymore when I left home, I feel cheerful.