Reaction Essay
In life, we encounter lots of trials. I also underwent that experience recently. I saw a picture and after I saw that picture, I felt a
great deal of sorrow. In the picture, a big ferry is sinking under the sea. Also, there are around 30 people with three boats. All of the
people are wearing life vests and some of them are on the boat. The others are trying to get out of the ferry. In addition, we can see
some windows of the ferry. In the windows, several people, who are wearing the life vests, are watching the rescue scene. They seem
to be waiting for their rescue.
This picture is about the tragedy of South Korea, which is my country, that happened recently. The ferry sailed to Jeju Island. In the
ferry, there were 476 passengers. Most of them were high school students. They were going on a school field trip to Jeju Island. However,
the ferry tilted suddenly to the left side because of the sailor’s inexperience. Even though the captain and the crew had an obligation to
protect their passengers, they escaped from the ferry immediately after they announced to the passengers to wait in the cabin. For that
reason, most people could not escape the ferry. They waited for a rescue team in the ferry and believed the captain’s words. The total
death toll is 285 and 19 others are still missing because of this incident. This is the worst disaster that I have ever heard about in my
country.
When I saw this picture, I felt a sense of powerlessness. There was nothing that I could do. I just stared at the picture. That was the
only thing that I could do. Also, I was furious about the captain and the crew’s behavior. In 2009, something similar happened in Japan but
all of the passengers were rescued in contrast with my country’s incident. The captain and the crew carried out their duties to the fullest
until all the passengers were saved. After I read this news, I felt ashamed about the crew’s behavior. If they had fulfilled their obligation
like Japan’s crew, most passengers would have been rescued and returned to their parents. They were only eighteen years old. I mean,
they were too young to judge the situation without the captain’s direction. The captain’s direction was the only thing that they could
depend on. They did not have any choice.
I imagine what I would do if I were them. Now I can say if I were them, I would escape from the cabin without the captain’s
direction. I can easily say I would not just wait in the cabin because I have not been in that situation. However, there are great gaps
between imagination and the reality. My country puts emphasis on etiquette. Therefore, most people learn etiquette from an early age.
In my country, age is really important. I have to be polite when I meet an elder. For example, when an elder tells me something, I just
follow what he or she say. I think this social custom had a great effect on the students’ decision. This is the reason why they stayed in the
cabin until the ferry completely tilted and sank.
Every one is still mourning for this disaster and I am no exception. This accident is not only the captain and crews’ problem but
also our problem. I feel ashamed and guilty that I could not do anything else. Our irresponsibility and ignorance led to this tragedy.
When I think about the students’ minds in the ferry, I am deeply sorrowful. What did they think while the ferry was sinking? Even at that
moment, they might have been waiting for rescue. They might believe us. I will never forget them and I hope they are all happy
in heaven.
In life, we encounter lots of trials. I also underwent that experience recently. I saw a picture and after I saw that picture, I felt a
great deal of sorrow. In the picture, a big ferry is sinking under the sea. Also, there are around 30 people with three boats. All of the
people are wearing life vests and some of them are on the boat. The others are trying to get out of the ferry. In addition, we can see
some windows of the ferry. In the windows, several people, who are wearing the life vests, are watching the rescue scene. They seem
to be waiting for their rescue.
This picture is about the tragedy of South Korea, which is my country, that happened recently. The ferry sailed to Jeju Island. In the
ferry, there were 476 passengers. Most of them were high school students. They were going on a school field trip to Jeju Island. However,
the ferry tilted suddenly to the left side because of the sailor’s inexperience. Even though the captain and the crew had an obligation to
protect their passengers, they escaped from the ferry immediately after they announced to the passengers to wait in the cabin. For that
reason, most people could not escape the ferry. They waited for a rescue team in the ferry and believed the captain’s words. The total
death toll is 285 and 19 others are still missing because of this incident. This is the worst disaster that I have ever heard about in my
country.
When I saw this picture, I felt a sense of powerlessness. There was nothing that I could do. I just stared at the picture. That was the
only thing that I could do. Also, I was furious about the captain and the crew’s behavior. In 2009, something similar happened in Japan but
all of the passengers were rescued in contrast with my country’s incident. The captain and the crew carried out their duties to the fullest
until all the passengers were saved. After I read this news, I felt ashamed about the crew’s behavior. If they had fulfilled their obligation
like Japan’s crew, most passengers would have been rescued and returned to their parents. They were only eighteen years old. I mean,
they were too young to judge the situation without the captain’s direction. The captain’s direction was the only thing that they could
depend on. They did not have any choice.
I imagine what I would do if I were them. Now I can say if I were them, I would escape from the cabin without the captain’s
direction. I can easily say I would not just wait in the cabin because I have not been in that situation. However, there are great gaps
between imagination and the reality. My country puts emphasis on etiquette. Therefore, most people learn etiquette from an early age.
In my country, age is really important. I have to be polite when I meet an elder. For example, when an elder tells me something, I just
follow what he or she say. I think this social custom had a great effect on the students’ decision. This is the reason why they stayed in the
cabin until the ferry completely tilted and sank.
Every one is still mourning for this disaster and I am no exception. This accident is not only the captain and crews’ problem but
also our problem. I feel ashamed and guilty that I could not do anything else. Our irresponsibility and ignorance led to this tragedy.
When I think about the students’ minds in the ferry, I am deeply sorrowful. What did they think while the ferry was sinking? Even at that
moment, they might have been waiting for rescue. They might believe us. I will never forget them and I hope they are all happy
in heaven.