시애틀지역
한인 꿈나무들이 내년도에 자신의 책을 내겠다는 다짐과 약속을 했다.
주인공들은
교육학 박사로 현재 시애틀 통합한국학교 교장을 맡고 있는 줄리 강 박사가 지난 26일 개최한 ‘출판 워크숍’에 참석한 어린이와 청소년들이다.
메모리얼
데이 연휴 기간 동안 여행을 떠나지 않은 가족들을 위해 자신의 두번째 에세이집 ‘꿈꾸는 청춘’을 출판했던 레이크 포레스트 파크에서 마련한 워크숍에서 강 박사는 자신이 새로 개발한 ‘용기있는 작가’란 프로그램을 소개했다.
이 프로그램은
장차 미국과 한국은 물론이고 전세계 리더로 커나갈 한인 꿈나무들이 1년 동안 각종 글들을 쓰는 자신만의
‘저널’을 만들도록 해 1년
뒤에 책을 출판하도록 하겠다는 의도로 강 박사가 고안했다.
강 박사는
이날 이 같은 프로그램에 동참하겠다는 10명의 학생들에게 매월 한 차례씩 모임을 갖고 멘토링을 해주는
한편 글쓰기를 도와줄 계획이다.
강 박사는
이날 워크숍에서 아이들뿐 아니라 한인 학부모들에게도 자녀의 성공에만 의지하지 말고 자신만의 꿈을 추구하고 도전해달라고 당부했다.
특히 자녀들도
자신의 미래를 설계하고 꿈을 갖고 살아가도록 적극 유도하고 꿈을 성취할 수 있도록 도와줄 것도 요청했다.
강 박사는
“한인 꿈나무들이 가족, 친구, 교사와 사랑의 관계를 가질 수 있도록 하고 단기와 장기 계획을 세워 자신이 원하는 직업을 찾아 원하는 직업분야의
‘잡 쉐도우’를 통해 일을 배우고 직업에 대해 리서치를 해야
한다”고 강조했다.
10 Korean students will publish their own book in 2014
Despite the long weekend, the turn out for the "How
to be a Writer: A Workshop for Children and Youth" at the Third Place
Books in Lake Forest Park was a success.
After learning about the writing
process and the journey Author Kang has taken to publish her two books, she
held a question and answer session.
She asked the students and parents about
their dreams. While many students shared their future goals without much
hesitation, the parents had a more challenging time sharing their dreams.
Kang
encouraged parents to establish their own dreams, independent of their
children's dreams. Kang said, "Often times, Korean parents rely on their
children's success and dreams to fulfill their dreams, but parents should
establish their own dreams and own them.
They also should allow their children
to "own" their dreams and just be available to support and to
facilitate the process".
Kang continued to speak about the importance of Love,
relationship with family, friends, and teachers. She encouraged students to
establish positive relationships and to nurture them.
Kang spoke about her
relationships with her teachers and recommended that students maintain their
relationship with their teachers, even after they leave the teacher's class.
Lastly, Kang spoke about the importance of Work. She
asked the students to create a short and long term plans. She encouraged
students to identify what they want to do, job shadow people with the jobs they
desire, and to research about the career.
She states, "Think about your passion
and spend time investigating what you like to do. The job has to be something
you enjoy, not just a source of income. Choose a career that's meaningful for
you".
Concluding, the parents were asked to write a note for
their children while the students wrote their first entry on "Dream, Love,
and Future Work". All student received journals and were encouraged to
write daily. From the workshop, students were invited to become Courageous
Writers.
It is a new program Kang has developed to nurture future Korean
American leaders. Ten students committed to becoming Courageous Writers. The
students will meet once a month with Author Kang and receive free mentoring and
writing support.
Author Kang's goal is to have these students commit to writing
their journals for a year and to help Courageous Writers to publish their own
book in 2014.
시애틀N=김성훈 기자 shk@seattlen.com
