What does it mean to be a Korean-American in today’s time? Both of my parents were born in South Korea and later immigrated to the United States. I was born in America. I am a US citizen. Does that automatically make me a Korean-American? When I was younger, my parents wanted me to learn Korean, but being the obstinate child I was, I vehemently refused to learn a language considered foreign. There were no other Koreans in my grade, why did I have to learn a language no one else I knew besides my family spoke? My sheer stubbornness gave my parents much struggle, and as result, they let me quit Korean School. It was a temporary joy for me, and as the years passed by, I felt no need or urge to learn Korean. However, over the past couple of years, I began to realize how much I was missing out on. Approximately 80 million people speak Korean and because I didn’t want to put in the time and effort, I did not know the beautiful language of Korea. I was unable to communicate with my grandparents and other Koreans. I was ignorant of the rich culture and history of Korea. I was missing the other half of me.
Renewed with vigor and determination, I committed myself to learning Korean. As my tongue struggled to articulate even the most basic sentences in Korean, I questioned what it truly meant to be a Korean-American. Did it require being able to speak the language? If that was the case, I would never be considered a Korean-American. I couldn’t even enunciate without an accent the simplest phrases in Korean, and even now I cannot.
As I continued to struggle to learn the language, I came to a slow realization that being labeled as a Korean-American did not mean I had to speak the language, as paradoxical as it sounds. Being a Korean-American means to understand and know the culture of Korea. It means that my Korean side and American side are at harmony. They are not fighting over one another for dominance. It also means that sometimes I connect more to my Korean side than my US counterpart, and vice versa. So yes, I can eat kimchi and pizza at the same time. Being a Korean-American means I have bits of two worlds and at the same time never truly fitting into either. It means I make my own world of the two. I cannot speak Korean fluently, yet I am learning and at the same time I am understanding more about myself and what it means to be a Korean-American.
When I was watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony held in Pyeongchang, Korea, pride swelled in me to know that I was part of a country so majestic. I asked myself though what was I doing to help my community? Particularly the Korean one. The answer was short. I volunteer at my local Korean School to teach young kids the basics of the Korean language. However, at my school, I am an officer of Urban Challenge Club, a club dedicated to those living in Camden, New Jersey: a city consistently ranked one of the most dangerous places to live in the country. We regularly visit nurseries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters in Camden, bringing supplies and our time. Helping others transcends what nationality you are. It transcends whether you are Korean or not. Over the summer, I researched under Dr. Joseph Cheung at Temple Medical School. I worked on TRPM2 ion channels and the role they play in cancer. Although I had my share of frustrated groans, I was proud and excited by the fact that I was working on a project pushing the barriers of what we know today that had the potential to save millions of people. I will be attending Cornell College of Engineering this fall and my goal is to be part of research team that looks to solve the problems of the future. While volunteering and helping others transcends your nationality, I wouldn’t have the aspiration and determination to accomplish my goals in life if it weren’t for my Korean heritage, background, and parents. That is why I am proud to be a Korean-American. Thank you.

<Rachel Han／ 12th Grade Moorestown HS Moorestown, NJ>