I come from a very conservative family. From a very young age, I have been told to always respect my elders, take my shoes off before entering a house, and never get a B in a class. All these values have affected my beliefs and shaped me as the person I am today.

As an honors student, I maintained A’s in advanced classes. Like many Asian children, one of my first dreams was to become a doctor, specifically a veterinarian because I loved my dog, and I had a big interest in anatomy. Although my parents always told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up, they always encouraged careers in medicine and law. I have always wanted to please my parents, but the thought of being a doctor never satisfied me. When I said that I wanted to pursue a career in the art industry, my parents were surprised. I was afraid that the amount of preparation and cost of supplies would become a burden to my family, yet they wanted to support me and my dream.

My mother is the most important person in my life. In times of trouble, she is the one always there to comfort me. On the other hand, my father tried very hard to discipline me. Because my sister and I are first generation Korean-Americans, my father wanted to teach us everything about our native country. I was taught Korean traditions and values, the alphabet, language, and history. I also had to keep a diary that my father strictly told me to write in Korean. The process of learning so much was frustrating, but I never wanted to disappoint my parents.

My Korean roots and the values that I have been taught have influenced many the decisions in my life. I am proud to be knowledgeable about my country’s culture and my own heritage. I have the most warmhearted and attentive parents, and I am very grateful for that. As I begin to age, I realize more of how much my parents sacrificed for me, and the amount of affection I received from them. All my relatives are in Korea, but my parents immigrated to America and took on hard jobs, just for my sister and me to have better lives. In the future, I hope to become the successful woman that my parents want me to be, so that I can return their unconditional love and warmth.