Wangyue Zhou, Grade 11
UWCSEA Dover Campus
If I had a time machine, I would go back in time to 2018. In this year, the world’s most famous boy band, BTS attended the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. As a K-pop group, they constantly break prejudice from the world. “Men shouldn't put on makeup.” “Men shouldn’t be idols.” “K-pop idols shouldn’t bear tattoos.” If I could go back, I would like to witness the year in which they faced the most pressure ever since their debut. They even considered dismissing the group at the beginning of that year. Yet at the General Assembly, they still brought positive energy to the world. They appealed that everyone should love themselves. Debuted in 2013, the group consisting of seven members has gone through many years journey from a small dark basement to the United Nations. The seven members, who debuted aging 16-21, had suffered from mockery and defiance through their idol journey. I remember one quote from RM, the leader of the group, "We’re on some path that’s set since we’re born, but I still believe we can change some things. So I believe in my faith but I still don’t believe in my fate."“We started LOVE YOURSELF as a way to reach young people and help improve their lives and rights”, said BTS, in a press release. “During the process, we also strove to ‘LOVE MYSELF’ ourselves, and we as a team and as individuals grew as well. We hope that many people felt how the love received from others can become the power that allows them to love themselves”, they added.
"Last November, BTS launched the “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF, building on our belief that “true love first begins with loving myself.” We have been partnering with UNICEF’s #ENDviolence program to protect children and young people all over the world from violence.
"Our fans have become a major part of this campaign with their action and enthusiasm. We truly have the best fans in the world!
"Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were hurdles. Most people thought we were hopeless. Sometimes, I just wanted to quit
"I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give it all up.
"I’m sure that I, and we, will keep stumbling and falling. We have become artists performing in huge stadiums and selling millions of albums.
"But I am still an ordinary, twenty-four-year-old guy. If there’s anything that I’ve achieved, it was only possible because I had my other BTS members by my side, and because of the love and support of our ARMY fans.
"Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.
"I would like to say one last thing.
"After releasing the “Love Yourself” albums and launching the “Love Myself” campaign, we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all over the world, how our message helped them overcome their hardships in life and start loving themselves. These stories constantly remind us of our responsibility.
"So, let’s all take one more step. We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to “speak yourself.”
"I would like to ask all of you. What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat?
"Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself.
"Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.
"I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.
"What is your name? Speak Yourself!"
Works cited
“BTS and UNICEF Celebrate 4 Years of the “Love Myself” Campaign to Promote Child Self-Esteem.” UN News, 5 Oct. 2021, news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102252. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
UNICEF. ““We Have Learned to Love Ourselves, so Now I Urge You to “Speak Yourself.””” Unicef.org, 24 Sept. 2018, www.unicef.org/press-releases/we-have-learned-love-ourselves-so-now-i-urge-you-speak-yourself. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Image Courtesy: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102252
"Last November, BTS launched the “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF, building on our belief that “true love first begins with loving myself.” We have been partnering with UNICEF’s #ENDviolence program to protect children and young people all over the world from violence.
"Our fans have become a major part of this campaign with their action and enthusiasm. We truly have the best fans in the world!
"Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were hurdles. Most people thought we were hopeless. Sometimes, I just wanted to quit
"I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give it all up.
"I’m sure that I, and we, will keep stumbling and falling. We have become artists performing in huge stadiums and selling millions of albums.
"But I am still an ordinary, twenty-four-year-old guy. If there’s anything that I’ve achieved, it was only possible because I had my other BTS members by my side, and because of the love and support of our ARMY fans.
"Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.
"I would like to say one last thing.
"After releasing the “Love Yourself” albums and launching the “Love Myself” campaign, we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all over the world, how our message helped them overcome their hardships in life and start loving themselves. These stories constantly remind us of our responsibility.
"So, let’s all take one more step. We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to “speak yourself.”
"I would like to ask all of you. What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat?
"Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself.
"Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.
"I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.
"What is your name? Speak Yourself!"
Works cited
“BTS and UNICEF Celebrate 4 Years of the “Love Myself” Campaign to Promote Child Self-Esteem.” UN News, 5 Oct. 2021, news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102252. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
UNICEF. ““We Have Learned to Love Ourselves, so Now I Urge You to “Speak Yourself.””” Unicef.org, 24 Sept. 2018, www.unicef.org/press-releases/we-have-learned-love-ourselves-so-now-i-urge-you-speak-yourself. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Image Courtesy: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1102252
www.unitedworldwide.co