A few days later, amidst the failed exam attempts among friends.
In the classes following the test, the teacher explains the correct answers and the common mistakes made by students with score issues.
During this process, students who mistakenly filled out the OMR cards and those who genuinely have marking problems begin to emerge, leading the school into a busy period.
Once this series of processes related to the exam is over…
“Let’s try to figure out which of the numerous professions in the book suits you.”
Taking a brief respite from their rigorous studies, the term ‘career’ that shapes a big part of life starts to subtly appear.
Future, career, job.
Words that evolved from a single character ‘dream’ that was casually thrown around in elementary school.
Three words that are mentioned repeatedly each grade level, emphasized as important.
However, the classes that actually deal with these crucial three words happen once or twice a week, if at all.
It’s limited to technology/home economics classes.
Even though teachers advise thinking about the future from middle school, they claim that focusing solely on studying is better right now.
Are they saying to only study, or to find a path for the future even now?
For students who are confused by the first score they’ve received in life after taking an exam, it is a chaotic career direction.
Still, most students don’t really have much thought about their career yet.
There are hardly any friends who carry the fanciful dreams from elementary school into middle or high school seriously.
If there are, they are students who had somewhat realistic aspirations since elementary school.
For others, they think it will surely come when they reach third year of middle school.
It will surely come when they reach high school.
It will surely come when they attend university.
If they don’t have a clear goal, they simply pass the responsibility to their future selves.
Friends who have vaguely pictured their future selves could at least outline a rough framework like a teacher, creator, programmer, chef, etc., even if not in detail.
“I used to say I wanted to be a building owner in elementary school.”
Magical Girl, doctor, member of the National Assembly—a plethora of absurd professions were rampant during elementary school days.
Thinking back, this too has shifted a bit to a more realistic outlook compared to the elementary school aspirations.
Honestly, the building owner was just a joke I wrote to tease the teacher.
If I save consistently, maybe I can buy a house located somewhat away from the metropolitan area?
Anyway, I confidently wrote down civil servant without hesitation.
Time has come to sit at the desks as the teacher instructed and explain why each classmate chose the profession they wrote down.
“Because you can make money while playing games.”
The friend in the back who has chosen to be a creator simply loves games.
“Because you can earn a lot of money.”
Eunyoung, my high-achiever classmate sitting next to me, has set her goal to be a doctor.
The reason is simply that she wants to earn lots of money.
“A stable job.”
When it was my turn, I listed civil servant and emphasized the stability of the job.
As long as one doesn’t quit due to not being able to withstand the pressure, it is indeed a pretty stable job.
The other friends sitting around us tilted their heads as if they didn’t understand the civil servant talk.
Especially, the expression on Eunyoung’s face seemed to say, “Is anyone allowed to be a civil servant?”
The thought that “How can someone who doesn’t study be a civil servant?” was evidently written on her face.
She certainly did not think of the existence of a ‘Magical Girl Special Admission’ program.
Reflecting once more on my confirmed career, the school day ended.
After all classes were over, while waiting endlessly for the teacher to return, I was chatting with my close friends when Shiyeon approached and asked.
“What did you write for your career aspiration in technology/home economics class?”
“Hmm? I wrote civil servant.”
“Civil servant? They say the exam is really hard…”
Shiyeon’s expression stiffened when I answered civil servant.
She must have heard rumors about the civil service exam and looked at me with a worried look.
Likewise, just like she is unaware of the existence of the ‘Magical Girl Special Admission’, she didn’t know about it.
At least you should know this.
But as I thought that, I couldn’t even remember when I mentioned it, so I pondered.
“Come to think of it…When did I tell her about that?”
It’s been such a long time since it was briefly mentioned by the government when the Magical Girl program started.
Considering how many years have passed, it has been quite a while.
Even just combining elementary school and middle school life, seven years have passed.
It’s unreasonable to perfectly remember all the difficult explanations given by the suited uncles in kindergarten.
Today, I should explain it again briefly when I get home.
By the way, while discussing the career aspirations mentioned in that technology/home economics class, I suddenly became curious about Shiyeon’s own aspirations.
Surely she has forgotten about the Magical Girl special admission civil servant, so it was certain that she didn’t write civil servant.
Shiyeon, still looking worried about the difficulty of the civil servant exam.
Instead of a reassuring answer, I returned her question.
“What did you write?”
“Me? A comic artist!”
On hearing the question, Shiyeon confidently stated her career aspiration as a comic artist.
A comic artist… Does she want to draw something like webtoons?
If she doesn’t succeed, it’s pretty easy to end up starving.
…That kind of talk isn’t uncommon about that job.
Having that perception inside, I couldn’t fully support her aspiration and let out a noncommittal hum.
Anyway, after returning home, when I explained the ‘Magical Girl Special Admission Civil Servant’ route to Shiyeon…
After she heard the full explanation, Shiyeon thought for a moment and then asked me.
“So, does that mean it’s not necessary to study hard at school?”
The job path is guaranteed.
As I’ve said before, middle and high school studies are solely for the purpose of employment.
Shiyeon reached the conclusion that attending school and studying hard is unnecessary.
“Hmm…”
With her arms crossed, eyes closed, she tilted her head slightly, releasing a hum.
Whether to answer yes or no to Shiyeon, who has realized the truth.
Even if I said no here, when she reaches high school or becomes an adult, she will naturally come to realize the truth.
The scores given by the school are merely indicators that find ‘more diligent and exceptional students’ for companies.
It is an undeniable truth that living one’s life is not significantly hindered by it.
Especially, while elementary education in mathematics and ethics might not be problematic…
Understanding the graph of functions or inferring the feelings of the speaker from reading poetry—those topics might not cause major problems if you don’t know them.
Ultimately, I had no choice but to nod in agreement with Shiyeon’s inquiry.
“If you explain everything and cover it up like that, I guess…”
Just a vague confirmation mixed with hesitation slipped out.
At this point, I was quite nervous that Shiyeon might say “I don’t want to go to school” and tacked on extra explanations.
Just as you don’t need to bungee jump because everyone dies someday, it isn’t necessary to throw away school life just because the path to employment is guaranteed.
Isn’t it common to say that school and military service are small societies?
Some people occasionally claim that school life isn’t needed, but…
Even those people must have naturally picked up on how to read others’ intentions and socialize with friends during their school days.
Well, it would be best not to go to the military if possible…
“I see.”
Hearing my ambiguous assent filled with various meanings, Shiyeon responded lukewarmly.
Needless to say about my academic performance, which has long lost its necessity for study, Shiyeon’s grades too have been falling every day, adhering to the saying “following your friends to Gangnam.”
Thus, as her grades continued to fall day by day, late May approached.
One of the major events in middle school life, the term ‘study trip’ began to subtly emerge.
Honestly, I don’t have many good memories of my previous study trips.
Of the ten middle schools, nine go on a study trip to Gyeongju.
Familiar landmarks in history textbooks like Cheomseongdae, the Buddha statue in a tomb, stone pagodas, stone pagodas, and more stone pagodas…
After seeing nothing but unremarkable stones, we returned, and at night, due to noise, they dragged people who were sleeping in the room out to teach about collective responsibility.
Souvenirs at tourist spots cheating naive students.
Wrapped up with the words of ‘memory’, the schedule itself made one question why they even went.
Nonetheless, it seems the world has changed significantly compared to that time, as the notice showed diverse facility experiences in the metropolitan area instead of the stench of stones from Gyeongju.
In line with that intent, on the first day, we were going to an amusement park in Seoul.
On the second day, there would be a wedding hall meal or a museum visit.
On the third day, we would go to a large sports center, showcasing a drastically different appearance compared to the bizarre activities and auditorium gatherings that filled previous study trips.
The participation fee was around 250,000 won, and after finishing the online banking transfer, I collapsed onto the bed.
“A study trip, huh—”
Today’s study trip is vastly different from the frequently traveled route to Gyeongju I used to be on.
I secretly anticipated what it would look like.
Now, I won’t have to hear the stupid question, “Did you come here to play?” during the study trip.
Of course, I came to play; what else would I be here for?
