Peace with North Korea Hangs in the Balance

The United States and its allies in South Korea are actively approaching an historic peace deal in the Korean peninsula. While tensions amounted to fierce stand offs and harsh exchanges, like when Kim Jong-un called Trump a “dotard” and Trump dubbed Kim Jong-un as “Rocket Man,” the tensions subside.

Tremendous strides towards negotiation amounted to historic scenes to ever be witnessed in decades. The Korean Peninsula witnessed a state of war for decades between two factions, two political entities, within a separated Korea. For once in a long time, the vision of a Korean peace makes a historic return.

The most profound moment in the news happened at the DMZ. The ceremony would define the moment, the significance would foot in the hope for reunification between the two states. Nothing would impose the eyes of the world like the historic scene witnessed; like photos found in history books, a spectacle came over the militarized border.

Two heads of state met at the border and shook hands, Kim Jong-un and President Moon Jae-in stood across each other, until they crossed the borderline; soon prompted, the two hugged and walked across the DMZ and proceeded. A ceremony continued. Children presented flowers to the North Korean leader. When they followed the line, with traditional music and traditionally clothed men, the carpet lead to a procession of men who also shook hands.

The significant ceremony would be the planting of trees. Both leaders used water from both sides of Korea to sustain the plants. Of the ceremonies, this moment meant cooperation between the two states. If there was a war, it seems very close an end.

Whether there will be a peace between the two states is unknown. Speculation is prompting a peace resolution. If this comes to an accord, it would bring attention to many other possibilities.

President Donald Trump is soon to visit the negotiation table in May. Among the upcoming event, pundits comment about the newfound strength in Trump’s foreign policy despite the trouble found in Syria. Peace in the Korean Peninsula would bring huge accolades to the Trump administration. If President Trump succeeds in peace between South Korea and North Korea, it would benefit his public standing and popularity.

However, the President proceeds with caution: both sides want much from each other, and there are many dilemmas the North Korean state must answer, like the question of prisoners as most nations in the region complain North Korea keeps in shackles. In light of the Otto incident, it is undoubtable that prisoners must be released for peace to prosper.

The US is pleading for the release of three prisoners: Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk, and Kim Dong-chul.

Meanwhile, China meets with North Korea. Their foreign minister visited the country of North Korea and returned. Kim Jong-un visited China on surprise and met on occasions with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. There is insight when negotiations happen, every participant will meet on the DMZ and communicate a deal.

Every side involved will have to toss their hats in the circle and see if peace is possible. When the time comes, and when peace meets at the horizon, there will be likely be undeniable strides towards communication on both sides.

Homeschooler in the Real World

Emma Folts, a sophomore at Wheaton College, shares her experience about her transition into college and how homeschool has both helped and hindered her.
How has your homeschool experience benefitted you, especially in your transition into college?
I think the one thing that homeschooling did that was really helpful as I entered college was that it taught me time management. As a homeschooler I had the same freedom as a college student has to put things off during the day and go see a friend instead. Since I had that experience, I knew the cost of that.
Also, personal responsibility and accountability with assignments. I feel like a lot of the other students had more expectations for gentler grading and that the professor would give them retakes or extensions, but that wasn’t something that ever happened to me in school. That learning curve wasn’t added because I never had it the other way. I think another thing was that because I was homeschooled, I was familiar with the format of teaching and then studying on my own.
Did you see any issues with your transition socially?
I think that homeschooling had two ramifications for me socially. One was helpful, one was hurtful.
It was really helpful because as a homeschooler, I had spent a lot of time realizing and developing who I was as a person and learning to recognize people who were being themselves, and those were the people I sought out as friends. Friendship as a homeschooler takes a lot more investment. I knew I was choosier with my friends which made me a lot less anxious and a lot more content.
The only real negative impact of the social bit was that I was really used to getting to choose the time I got to spend with people. As a homeschooler I spent a lot of time with people, but that time was controlled by me. As a college student, I found that you can’t really control the time you spend with people and alone time is not really available. Learning to deal with that was a lot harder than anticipated.
Any last comments on homeschool and how it has affected your college experience?
I think homeschooling is really helpful, however it does take a slightly increased amount of advocacy with your peers when you’re entering into college. I think a lot of people come in with certain assumptions about homeschool, especially students. You’re going to get a lot of, ‘oh my gosh, you don’t seem like a homeschooled person!’ [You can’t] take that too personally and explain your experience so that friends can understand it’s an important piece of you, though it might not look like the homeschooling that they’ve seen.
My encouragement to anyone who is a homeschooler transitioning into college is to realize the benefit that you have having been homeschooled, and to realize that the bit of advocacy and explaining that you need to do with your peers is totally normal and that it’s not a big deal. Once they understand your experience, it’s not something I’ve experienced being looked down on for.