I AM KOREAN AMERICAN

Occupation

Student at the University of Virginia

Own Words

Hey there.

I came into this world with a dream. And being in America, I was often told to follow my dreams. I was to be the next Michael Jordan, the Kobe Bryant 2.0. People all over would praise me for my basketball prowess! Alas, reality set in, and I realized my physical features brought upon me by my Asian gene make-up would crush my dreams.

I think that story well defines my relationship with my Korean-Americanness. But not fully.

I am a Korean American.

Some things that I am, like my sense of humor, or my optimistic personality you may never see at first glance, but my Asian, that is the first thing everyone sees.

My eyes, my skin brought along the questions like,” what are you?” “are you chinese?” It also brought the hate. The mocking bows, the “ching-chongs”, the slantly eyes, the laughing. Some days I would wish that I just could have been, well, anything other than a Korean American.

But, as life went on, I learned to accept who I am and learn to love the life that I live because I am a Korean American. The food, the oh so excellent food, the traditions, the culture, the strong family ties, the respect to elders. Being Korean American is amazing.

I may never play in the NBA, or be someone recognized for being completely amazing at basketball, but I thank God for everything He’s done for me.

To be an American. To live in a land that promotes dreaming, that creates opportunities. To live in a country that gives me almost every possible chance of doing almost anything I want.

To be a Korean. To live being different. To be unique and special. To have a culture and heritage that I love and respect.

To be Korean American.