According to research conducted by National Geographic, people encounter situations that require them to make a choice about 150 times a day, and about 30 times among these situations they need to make a careful choice. However, people smile with satisfaction from their choice just five times on average. It means our daily life is a series of choices nearly every moment of the day. It also shows how difficult making the right choice can be. 

 Every choice includes two parts. First, each choice always contains another path we did not take. It is called ‘opportunity cost’ in economics. We have to abandon other things if we choose one thing, and it is inevitable. The important thing is, whether the opportunity cost is high or low, that it is just a guideline for making a wiser choice the next time. So you do not need to be obsessed and cling to past choices. Second, ‘responsibility’ follows the choice. If you choose something by yourself, you have to take responsibility for it. This means you cannot blame anyone for the result of your choice. When I was young, the range of choice was not as wide as it is now. Parents used to solve problems whenever something went wrong. At that time, I longed to make my own decisions not caring about the hidden consequences. Contrary to the past, nowadays I make almost all my own choices and I bear all the responsibility for them. There is no one who I can blame for the consequences of my choices anymore. It is ‘my choice’ in the true sense of the word.

 We tend to pay closer attention to ‘choice for taste’ rather than ‘choice for value’ in everyday life. For instance, we are concerned with these kinds of questions: “What kind of lunch should I eat?”, ”How about these clothes today?” or “Should I buy the latest products?” We make them carefully, take them seriously. On the other hand, we do not take a profound interest in the choice for value, although there are so many situations that do not require any choice as the answers are clear. We throw trash everywhere, cut in line or make some noise in public places. In other words, we do not think of the opportunity cost and responsibility.

 We have an oversupply of opportunities to make choices in our lives, but the ‘choice for response’ is much more important than the choice for taste or value. It means how I can respond to a given situation. Not long ago, I often appeared irritable to the people around me and often my unpleasantness offended them. In this situation, I failed to choose a wise response to those around me. It would have been better to talk about my feelings and the reasons behind them. But I did not do so, and I still regret it. Many of you may feel the same, regretting past actions or choices. What can you do? Respond more thoughtfully in the future. In the future you will have many opportunities to make a choice. You’ll have various options, and your choice will either be a delight or a curse. To make it a delight, consider the opportunity cost and remember the responsibility of the choice is yours alone. And most importantly, remember to respond well to those around you.

By Lim Seon-hye, Head Student Editor
#293 Desk Column