Anonymous letter
- Date2020.02.06
- 4315
An anonymous donor described as an ordinary office worker in her 30s commits to donating six million won through a “Camille Pissarro Scholarship”
In January 2018, an e-mail arrived at the Office of University Relations and Development. An alumna identifying herself as an ordinary office worker aged 35 committed to anonymously donating 500,000 won per month for a year (six million won total) in the name of the Camille Pissarro Scholarship. We became curious and sent an e-mail to her and listened to her story.
What made you donate at an unusually young age?
It has been 10 years since I graduated and started my career. I’m living an ordinary life, repeating a daily work process creating strategies, wooing collaboration partners, and apologizing over the limits we have to set. My faith is paper-thin, but I plucked up my courage because I hope that the righteousness of God can be achieved through me.
I wonder what is behind naming the scholarship “Camille Pissarro”? Is the scholarship named after the painter?
Yes, it is named after the painter. A name is very important because it is how you are called. So, I wanted a name that wouldn’t embarrass the scholarship recipient when she says “I received X scholarship.” Why Camille Pissarro? I love his work for its tender perspective on the world and I love how he lived his whole life sincerely overcoming the feelings of indolence and helplessness that happen to everyone.
What does Ewha mean to you?
Ewha was my first step in learning how to face the prejudices inside and outside of me and not to give up my dignity even in a predicament. Through Ewha, I understood the value of genuine beauty and found that tenderness can be a strength.
Do you have any advice for current students as an alumna?
People’s only calling is to live sincerely without running away in spite of haunting feelings of helplessness or indolence and not to deny reality. It is said that God wants us to simply live, not insisting we make grand accomplishments. There is more to life than pursuing other people’s praise or outcompeting others. The world is not that simple. I hope you can discard the illusions that make you lower yourself through a distorted yardstick and be strong and relaxed.
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