Age is not just a number

A week prior, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a longtime companion. During our gathering, he introduced me to an acquaintance who had just arrived in Korea from Vietnam to commence his undergraduate studies. The newcomer appeared to be of a tender age, brimming with youth, vitality and enthusiasm. Intrigued by his young appearance, I felt compelled to inquire about his age. To my surprise, he responded with a cheerful smile, divulging his true age.

The revelation prompted a flood of memories from my own high school days. We delved into the study of English literature, perusing a variety of genres. Among the many books we read, my personal favorites were dramas that transported us back to the medieval era. One particular story that still lingers in my mind is Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra."

In this classic tragedy, Cleopatra, the seductive queen of Egypt, reflects upon her youthful and naivety that clouded her judgment early in life. She poetically laments, "My salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood..." These words encapsulated her youthful and inexperienced passion for Julius Caesar, a sentiment that resonated deeply with us young students.

As we engaged in conversation, I began to draw parallels between Cleopatra's metaphorical "salad days" and our own youthful experiences. The term "salad days" and being described as "green" came to represent our immaturity and lack of experience during our formative years. Much like Cleopatra's shifting affections for Caesar, we too found ourselves oscillating between the naivety of our youth and the more mature, deeper love we later developed for our peers.

Through this exchange, I came to appreciate the profound impact that age truly has on our perceptions and the valuable lessons we learn as we mature.