The Most Powerful Line From a K-Pop Star at the UN
- Professor Puddlewick
- Feb 26
- 4 min read
In 2018, RM (Kim Nam Jun), leader of BTS, stood at the United Nations General Assembly and shared something deeply personal. He spoke about losing his confidence as a child — worrying about what others thought, trying to fit into moulds, and slowly shutting out his own voice (United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], 2018).
Then he said something powerful:
“We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to ‘speak yourself.’” (UNICEF, 2018)
This wasn’t just a speech for world leaders.
It was a message for the youth, and for anyone still figuring out who they are.
Lesson 1: Confidence Begins With Knowing Yourself
RM described how, as a young boy, he stopped looking at the stars and started worrying about how others saw him (UNICEF, 2018). Many kids can relate.
Have you ever changed how you act to fit in?
Stayed quiet because you were afraid of being judged?
Compared yourself to others and felt smaller?
Confidence doesn’t mean being loud. It means being comfortable in your own story.
RM explained that he learned to accept his past mistakes and faults as part of who he is becoming (UNICEF, 2018). That mindset is the foundation of healthy self-confidence.
Lesson 2: Mistakes Don’t Define You — They Develop You
“I made many mistakes in my life… I have many faults and many fears,” RM admitted (UNICEF, 2018).
But instead of hiding them, he embraced them.
That is resilience.
Resilience is not about never failing.
It is about continuing after failure.
When you get:
A low test score
Left out of a friendship group
Criticised online
Rejected from a team
The mistake or setback becomes part of your constellation — not the end of your story.
Lesson 3: You Don’t Grow Alone
RM also emphasised that his achievements were only possible because of his fellow BTS members and their fans (UNICEF, 2018).
Confidence grows in community.
This links directly to wellbeing research: supportive relationships improve emotional regulation, self-esteem, and resilience in young people (OECD, 2019).
Ask yourself:
Who supports me?
Who do I support?
Have I thanked them?
Strong relationships stabilise confidence.
Lesson 4: Your Voice Matters
At the end of his speech, RM asked:
“What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat?” (UNICEF, 2018)
Ask yourself that same question!
To “speak yourself” means:
Express your ideas respectfully
Stand up against bullying
Share your creativity
Admit when you need help
Be honest about your identity
Your voice does not need to reach the United Nations to matter.
It only needs to be authentic.
Final Thought
RM did not present himself as perfect.
He presented himself as human.
That is the real lesson.
Confidence is not pretending you have no fears.
Resilience is not avoiding mistakes.
Wellbeing is not suppressing emotions.
Growth begins when you accept your story — and speak it.
So here is the same question he asked the world:
What is your name?
And are you ready to speak yourself?
Vocabulary
Authentic – Real and genuine; true to who you are.
Resilience – The ability to recover and keep going after setbacks.
Mindset – The way you think about your abilities and challenges.
Self-confidence – Trust in your own abilities and worth.
Identity – The qualities and beliefs that make you who you are.
Vulnerability – Willingness to show your true feelings, even when it feels risky.
Conviction – A strong and confident belief.
Suppress – To hold back or hide something, especially emotions.
Reflection – Careful thought about your experiences in order to learn from them.
Constellation – A group of stars forming a pattern; used metaphorically to describe how experiences form your life story.
Discussion
Understanding the Message
Why do you think RM chose to share personal struggles instead of just talking about success?
What does “speak yourself” mean in your own words?
Why is it harder to be yourself when you care about what others think?
Confidence & Identity
Have you ever tried to change yourself to fit in? What happened?
What does healthy confidence look like? Is it loud or quiet?
How can accepting your mistakes increase your confidence?
Resilience
What is the difference between failing and being a failure?
Think of a mistake you made that helped you grow. What did it teach you?
Why do you think successful people often talk about their failures?
Relationships & Support
Why is it important that RM mentioned his team and fans?
How do supportive relationships help build confidence?
How can you be part of someone else’s support system?
Voice & Courage
What stops young people from speaking up?
In what situations is it important to “speak yourself”?
How can you express your voice respectfully, even when you disagree?
Personal Reflection
What is one quality that makes you uniquely you?
What excites you and makes your “heart beat,” as RM asked?
What would change in your life if you stopped worrying so much about others’ opinions?
References
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2019). OECD future of education and skills 2030: OECD learning compass 2030. OECD Publishing.
United Nations Children’s Fund. (2018, September 24). “We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to speak yourself”: BTS at the United Nations. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/we-have-learned-love-ourselves-so-now-i-urge-you-speak-yourself
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