I AM KOREAN AMERICAN

Own Words

I’m currently a student finishing my senior year of high school at a boarding school. I grew up in Colorado but my parents have done a lot to expose me to as much Korean culture as possible. I still eat Korean food when I go back home and I can speak Korean as well. Although I am “Korean” in these ways, I’m very much a white-washed asian. I have very few asian friends and I can’t really relate to them on a cultural level either, which is fine actually.

I love love love film. It’s my greatest passion and something I want to do for the rest of my life. I will be going to a university in New York City this fall to major in film and possibly psychology. I love art and fashion as well. Anything that can be portrayed through a creative visual medium, I’m just a fan of. Sometimes I’m amazed at how well we can capture beauty in this world.

I am also, very proudly, gay. Although I don’t like labels, it feels like it is the most straightforward way to say it. I struggled with it because of where I grew up and my very conservative parents, but I am proud to be out. It’s not something that anyone should be ashamed of or have to hide. I’m incredibly happy with who I am now and I hope that if any young struggling asian sees this that they can have some hope that things will get better.