Collegian Winter 2020
We hope you enjoy Holly's story in this edition of NCC's alumni magazine, the Collegian!
We hope you enjoy Holly's story in this edition of NCC's alumni magazine, the Collegian!
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ALUMNI
UPDATE
HOLLY HAN
by Sue Grierson In Other Words - The Girl is Unstoppable!
Elementary school in South Korea was not
an optimal learning environment for Holly
Han. Her insatiable curiosity, keen intellect,
and unbridled comments frequently landed
her into hot water with her teachers.
“I experienced a rough time in elementary
and middle school because the education
system was very different. They discouraged
students from asking questions. I
would challenge teachers if they didn’t
really make sense.”
Cross-examining her teachers was regarded
as a direct challenge to their authority.
This did not bode well for Holly. She was
perceived as a troublemaker, and was often
punished as a result.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion - For
every action there is equal and opposite
reaction.
“It was very frustrating so my parents advised
me not to not go to high school, study
by myself, take a national exam and move
on. That was our original plan.”
That plan might have worked, but Holly
suffered from a universal teenage malady
- inertia.
“It turned out that I did not have much
self-discipline,” Holly laughed, recalling her
futile self-taught efforts. I was not able to
commit myself to a strict routine of studying,
so I ended up playing with my friends and
not studying at all.”
After three months of “just hanging out,”
Holly’s mother approached her with the
idea of going to school abroad.
Law of Inertia - A body continues in its
state of rest, or of uniform motion in
a straight line, except in so far as it is
compelled by external impressed forces
to change that state.
“My parents didn’t have lots of money to
send me to the States or somewhere else
very expensive, so we looked into cheaper
countries - but they were not known for a
good education”.
After thoroughly researching their options,
Canada proved to be the clear-cut choice
for Holly and her family.
“It was safe. It was cheaper than the States,
but it was also an English-speaking country,
a very developed country, and a very
peaceful country - with nature. Education
was also good. So it was a perfect place.
It was a good balance.”
Holly’s parents heard about Niagara Christian
Collegiate through an education agency
in South Korea.
“And it sounded perfect. It was exciting
to think about attending a school somewhere
else - but at the same time, it was
nerve-breaking…a mixed feeling of excitement
and concern.”
Holly faced many challenges while transitioning
to her new home in Canada. Due
to a setback in obtaining a study permit,
Holly arrived in Canada weeks after school
began. As a result, she felt left behind.
“Things move fast here (at the school). From
Day 1 you start studying. It was kind of late
to get caught up with everything. Everyone
had already developed friendships, so it
was hard to fit in because I saw friends in
groups already. And we were in page 50
or 60 of textbooks, so I didn’t know where
to start. There were many things to adjust
to for the first time. It was beautiful, first
of all, but also I didn’t know where to start
so I felt quite lost.
“It was difficult to adjust in the middle of
the first semester. Mid-term hit. It was my
second day at school. I was in grade 10
math and they were having a quiz. I didn’t
know what to write.”
Holly’s mid-term grades were poor due to
the late start. She was then sent for tutoring
which proved to be incredibly discouraging
for this bright young student.
“I remember seeing the Honour Roll for
the first time. I didn’t know what it was so
I asked other students what this was about.
They said these are people who got their
grades above 80%, and this Honour Roll
gets sent to your family. Then your parents
know that you are doing well. There was
another Korean girl who was in grade 11
and had arrived two days before me. She
was late starting school, but she studied
hard enough within that short amount of
time and managed to put herself on the
Honour Roll.”
Newton’s Second Law of Motion - The
rate of change of momentum is proportional
to the impressed force and takes
place in the direction of the straight line
in which the force acts.
“Seeing that girl’s name on the Honour
Roll really shocked me. I was ashamed of
myself. What have I been doing while this
girl has been doing her best? I had been
really discouraged and I didn’t really try
hard to adjust myself in the new environment.
At that point, I felt like I got hit on
the back of my head!”
Holly’s irrepressible determination bounced
back in full force. She vowed that by the next
exam, her name would be on the Honour
Roll and she’d make her parents proud. By
the final exam that same year - and every
year that followed - Holly Han’s name was
on the Honour Roll.
Earning this distinction meant more to Holly
than just academic achievement.
“…not just to represent myself as a kid with
high grades, but it was more meaningful to
me that I was working with what I had been
given, and feeling grateful, even though I
was away from family and homesick - but at
the same time I needed to do my job. It was
then that I developed the self-commitment
and determination to work really hard. I
chose to do my best. Everything started
to work out really, really well.”
6 The Collegian Winter 2020