This is the story of an eagle. The eagle has the longest life-span of its species. It can live up to 70 years. However, to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its 40th year. Its long and flexible talons can no longer grab the prey which serves as food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent. Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, stick to its chest and make it difficult to fly. Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days. The process requires that the eagle flies to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. Then the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons. When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers. And after 5 months, the eagle takes its flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years. This whole process of rebirth is painful for the eagle. However, by enduring the pain, the eagle can get a new life.

As we live, we always face many hardships. Every life has hardships, and every success story is filled with obstacles and near disasters. No one has made it to the place of success without facing and overcoming difficult odds. Everyone who succeeds may point to a particular strength. However, the one strength common to success is endurance because no one wins without hardship.

Everyone who wins must endure!

Choi Shi-young | By Editor-in-chief