My commitment to diversity began at a young age from my experiences of being marginalized and underestimated. I was born in Minneapolis, MN and moved to Seoul, South Korea at age five. Readjusting to changing society and economy of Korea was hard for my parents; for me, trying to fit in anywhere I go was a challenge in itself. However, all the challenges I experienced during my formative years shaped my interests in identity and culture and desires to be a role model for those who feel undervalued and invisible.
I became aware of identity politics at a very young age. After years of being bullied for having an accent and coming from the U.S. by kids in my neighborhood and peers at a Korean elementary school, my parents transferred me to an American K-12 institution. Socializing in the new Korean-American environment was more pleasant than my previous experiences.
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Mount Holyoke College provided an intellectually stimulating and socially inclusive and welcoming space. I felt safe to finally come out and express myself the way I am in this new environment. Although I became more comfortable with myself, others’ biases and intolerance against me did not wane. I became a target of racially-charged, homophobic cyber attacks in my junior year. From this experience, I realized that even at a liberal, embracing institution like Mount Holyoke College, my presence was an anomaly. I decided to take my experience as an opportunity to engage in conversations with others. I started informal dialogues within the Korean American Sisters Association about welcoming sexual minority members and providing a safe space for all “sisters.” I also facilitated several Taboo! dialogue sessions, a community dialogue series that engages members to talk about hard-to-deal-with subjects. Sessions I led include of discussions about racial and sexual identity, coming out experiences, and creating more inclusive