Meet Kyoungnak Minn, aka, Nak. He joined Dwight School Seoul in 2012 when it first welcomed new students on campus. He has been a very active member of the Dwight community, most recently having performed at the Lotte Concert Hall for Dwight’s Global Music Festival, Souls in Harmony. Nak is graduating from DSS at the end of May and will go onto university in Boston. Although he has never been to Boston or lived in the US, he is very excited at the opportunity to experience a brand new city. According to Nak, “Life is a giant mystery box after all!”
Do you remember your first day at Dwight School Seoul? What do you remember the most about that day?
My first day at Dwight was a mixed bag of emotions. I used to live in a small town in Surrey, UK, so I was worried that I might lose this sense of community as I came back to Korea. Also at the same time, everyone was new. You feel the pressure when you enter a new school because people already have existing friend groups and you may feel isolated. Here, that was not the case. I remember seeing my classroom for the first time on the second floor and meeting up with my classmates and teacher, Mr. Kirk. Browdows. It was a hot, sunny day and I honestly did not know what to expect. Sadly, I don’t remember much about my first day. Given that I remember all the niche details during my journey at Dwight, It feels odd that I forgot one of the most important days here.
How has DSS evolved in the past 10 years?
Other than the obvious changes like teacher changes, student changes, leadership changes, etc. the school has evolved further to emphasize on the community aspect. As time passed by, I feel like everyone got more integrated with each other. Having relationships with not just people from your class, but also other members of your grade, other students, other teachers, etc. has strengthened our shared values.
What will you miss the most about Dwight?
I will definitely miss all of the students and teachers here. I’ve been heavily involved with school activities, so I get more opportunities to work with other teachers and students. In the end, it’s the small moments in life that count the most, and I think I’ll miss all of the interaction in the hallways and such. Oh, and I definitely will miss playing all of those boardgames in the library.
How would you describe your overall experience at DSS during the past 10 years?
My experience at Dwight has been nothing but positives. This school has truly nurtured me into becoming a better thinker, a better learner, and a better observer. The learning environments were intense, but they were thought-provoking and interesting. The members of this community are extremely kind and I think that definitely improved upon my experience.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I honestly have no idea what I see myself doing in 10 years. I know it may not be an answer that people are looking for, but I am always open to new opportunities – I just want to try new things as I move on with life. Who knows where I’ll be, what I’ll be doing, and how. Life is a giant mystery box after all!
Would you like to share where you are headed in the fall and what your plans may be in terms of major or career interests?
I’ll be heading over to Boston College in August. I’m currently undeclared, but I just want to experience everything that this school offers. I’ve never been to Boston, and I’ve never lived in the US, so this is very exciting for me. I can’t wait to take advantage of my opportunities and have fun in the US!
Who in the DSS community had the greatest impact/influence during your time at DSS?
It’s hard to say. Everyone – teachers, students – had an impact on my growth, and It’s really difficult to pinpoint down to a specific person or small group who impacted my school year the most.
