When I couldn’t read the text, I studied with sound…A high school girl who went to Seoul National University with leukemia

“The lady who cleaned the ward, the nurse, the doctor, and the school friends and teachers.”

When I asked Chae Ye-won (19), who passed the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Seoul National University in the 2021 school year, the answer came back. Chae Yang, who lives in Doryang-dong, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk, was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019, just before the first semester of his third year in high school began. I took a leave of absence for one year and returned to school. However, I had to spend my exam life taking immunosuppressants and painkillers. Chae Yang, who passed Seoul National University after hard work, said, “I am happy to be able to study freely in a good environment, although not all of my life has been successful by going to Seoul National University.”

Chae-yang, who met on the 27th at Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, was delighted. He laughed, “I took a little rest after completing the SAT,” and “I am happy to go to college.” Chae Yang said, “Originally positive,” he said. “When I was diagnosed with leukemia, I only thought that I should study again soon.” He is not in a cure yet, he said, “I can’t run fast, but there is no problem with walking.”

Born into an ordinary family in Gumi City, Gyeongbuk, Chae Yang went on to Gyeongbuk Foreign Language High School. Until middle school, like any other student, I went to a local playground or cafe until late in the evening. It is said that the academy only went to the local English and math academy. After passing the local foreign high school, he was elected vice president of the entire school. At school, he was healthy enough to be famous as a dormitory morning gym assistant.

But just before I reached my 3rd grade in high school, cancer came. She had to go to school in the morning of January 2019, but Chae Yang could not get up. My back hurt like a break, and my eyes and gums were inflamed. At first, he said he thought it was because he studied a lot. I went to a university hospital only when I was unable to go to the bathroom alone. The diagnosis result is leukemia.

After that, he submitted a leave of absence and fought the sick all year round. He received chemotherapy 4 times and had surgery to transplant the hematopoietic stem cells of his older sister. Rejection occurred and the skin of the hands and feet peeled off. But I didn’t stop studying in the bed. I only listened to Ingang (internet lecture) because I couldn’t read the letters, and when I couldn’t concentrate on reading English texts, I immersed myself in memorizing subjects.

Chae Yang credited that it was thanks to the school that he finished his examination life safely. After hearing the news of Chae Yang’s diagnosis of leukemia, his friends collected blood donations. They donated blood as a group with juniors and motives, and donated blood donations through social network service (SNS). There are over 1500 blood donations collected in this way. The leftover blood donation from Chae Yang’s treatment will be donated to a cafe for patients with leukemia. The donations collected by faculty and students also exceed 6 million won. The provincial office of education, who heard the news, also said he wanted to apply.

The school helped Chae Yang prepare for returning to school. The class alternately selected’health assistants’ to perform ventilation and disinfection regularly for Chaeyang, a high-risk group of new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). The dormitory provided a single room and allowed only Chae Yang’s mother to come once a week. Chae Yang’s homeroom teacher said, “Yewon did not only receive help,” he said. “Because I was a very good student and former vice president of the entire school, I took a lot of juniors in each team activity.”

After studying safely like this, Chae Yang took the SAT at the general examination center. About a month later, I heard the news from Seoul National University.

Chae Yang expressed his ambition to “become a diplomat who realizes environmental protection in the Department of Climate Change Science and Diplomacy.” The university plans to apply for overseas volunteer work, international student association activities, and international organization internships. He said, “I want to know a lot, but the depth of learning has increased as I study English,” he said. “I want to become a person who has a positive influence on the world by working as a diplomat.” Chae Yang said that she cried a lot. He said, “I don’t want to reveal the painful part, but I want to support someone who is sick like me a little.”

Reporter Kyung-Hyun Kyung-Hyun [email protected]