Taeyang's Shouting Out To The World

“Since this is what you’ve chosen, you have to take responsibility.”

My parents hoped that when we grew up, my brother and I would choose professions such as lawyers, doctors, or professors, which is probably not much different from other families. Unfortunately, my brother and I both had more interest for music than for studying. They were fine with us becoming piano or music teachers too if we couldn’t go with their first choices. I had once thought that their dream for us was my dream for myself too.

However, as I’ve always been a child who followed his parents’ wishes, they were visibly shocked when I announced that I am to become a contracted trainee for YG. They even tried to talk me out of it. They said if I really liked the fields of music or entertainment, why not become an actor instead of a singer so that it’s a more stable career path?

Although I had the principles of “no field/line of work was easy”, and “at least becoming a singer was what I wanted and what I was good at” to my defense, I still had to disobey my parents’ wishes for the first time in order to sign the contract that would solidify my stubbornness. My way of getting my parents to agree did not include running away from home, going on hunger strike, or giving them the silent treatment. Even though realizing my dreams was important to me, I wouldn’t want this to strain my relationships or bring others pain and sadness. Nevertheless, I am very thankful that my parents weren’t immovable mountains.

I always do what I am told. Cleaning is the most basic, a task I would do even if I wasn’t instructed to since it was something that would make my parents happy if I did it. This is one of those things that would not change even after I become a trainee and then a singer, a kind of unspoken promise from a loving son. As long as I had the time and the chance, I would sincerely say what I feel.

I would like to share my experience for those who are feeling troubled because their parents are opposed what they want.

If I had something I really wanted to do and the people around me were against it, I could kiss my chance to get their blessing goodbye if I just scowled and refused to talk.

There will also be times when I am very certain about my ideas, but because I am young and inexperienced I cannot find the words to convince them. If I had just given up then or turned my back complaining that my parents don’t understand me at all, the chance to convince them would be gone for good, and this would only cause misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Both sides would forever be unable to understand one another. This was how I felt then. I will not cause conflict, but instead I’ll try to truly understand from my parent’s perspective, using my quiet voice to convince them to come around.

Finally, all the convincing paid off and my parents gave me their approval… on one condition.

“Okay, if you really want to do this, go ahead. But since this is the path you’ve chosen, you have to be responsible and see it through. You have to finish what you start. Regardless if you encounter failures or setbacks, you’re not allowed to make excuses.

Oh, and there was another condition. “You can’t neglect your studies because of your becoming a trainee.” More importantly, I had to keep my grades up.

With my parents’ blessing as I agreed to their conditions, I started to formally embark on my journey upon the “Wild Road” of my dreams.

Translator’s Note: This is Part 5 of Taeyang’s Shouting Out to the World, a translation from the Chinese translation of Shouting Out to the World by Big Bang China. This is merely a fan translation and is not affiliated with YG Entertainment or the publisher Sam and Parkers. This should only be for the fans’ personal use and should not be reproduced, modified, redistributed for any commercial purposes. Please do not take out/repost elsewhere without the translator’s explicit permission. 

OU YEAH...AND US,HIS VIPS, ARE SOO HAPPY AND GLAD THAT HE CHOSE THIS WAY!! WE ARE SOOO DAAN PROUD OF HIM!!! WE WILL NEVER STOP SUPPORTING HIM!! NEVER!! HE WILL ALWAYS STAY IN OUR HEARTS!!! HWAITING!!!

TAEYANG always VIP*.*