My parents, Daniel and Angela, immigrated to California from Seoul, South Korea. As a result, my sister Jane and I are the first generation Korean-Americans in my family. Jane is three years older than me and is a UCLA alumna. You can already tell what kind of relationship we have.
I currently reside in Boyle Heights. I absolutely love the community here and can spend an entire day finding unique shops and restaurants just down the street from my home. Although I have lived in this area for just over a decade, I still feel, at times, completely lost.
It is very common for me to have a skateboard by my side at all times. Ever since I picked one up in my freshman year of high school, my skateboard has always seemed to fit in the picture, somewhere. I owe a lot of my happiness, positivity, and tenacity to skateboarding and yet, skateboarding does not owe me anything in return.
After registering for a skateboard diplomacy class in the spring semester of my sophomore year, I became aware of the broader implications of skateboarding as a globally unifying tool. When skateboarding became introduced as an official sport in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, I felt ecstatic. One of my future goals is to cover this event, as it is a huge milestone for skateboarders all over the world.
I am a storyteller. Growing up, I had a natural talent for gathering attention and captivating my audience until I said all that I wanted to say. I felt satisfaction in that I successfully transferred information and was credible for it.
I can say that getting accepted into USC was one of the highest achievements in my life so far. There were many options to choose from, but I decided to pick the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism as my home for the next four years.
My skateboard is still in the picture. I ride on it in between my classes.
Being enrolled in one of the best journalism programs in the state is just another step I need to take to become a better storyteller. With the right tools, connections, and attitude, I believe that I have a place somewhere, where likeminded people want to share creative, informative stories.
I am learning how to become the best journalist I can be. I am having fun and find all the skills that I am picking up relevant to my goals. To be honest, we never know what is in store for us in the future. Yet, I know that through my classes I am prepared for any serendipitous situation.
I have a lot to say about myself and the city I live in. I cannot wait to share my stories.