I am a daughter of a “seagull dad”. Seagull dad is a Korean cultural jargon that is used to describe a father who sends their family abroad for the sake of his children 's’ education. My father, by being a seagull dad, sent me to an international school in Singapore. This decision of his fundamentally shaped my character, especially by installing in me resilience, grit, and cultural competence. I spent my formative years in Singapore, and naturally, my multicultural background and education played a critical role in building my cultural awareness. I, like most foreigners and immigrants, understand how it feels to lose the comfort of one’s mother tongue, government, and citizenship that protects me as institutions. I have also been exposed to individuals from different countries all over the world, ranging from the United States to Nepal. I also have the experience of having to adapt quickly and assimilate into another culture. Through these experiences, I gained the emotional intelligence necessary to empathize with people from different socioeconomic, cultural, and racial backgrounds. Growing …show more content…
While teaching in 901 arts in Baltimore, I taught an ambitious student, who was talented enough to transcribe with me a Macklemore’s hip-hop song, but couldn’t practice because he didn’t have piano or a keyboard anywhere to practice on. This is quite a contrast to the opportunities available on the Upper East Side of New York City, which is where I work currently. Such disparity is one of the reason cultural mindfulness is critical in being a physician, as she/he has to treat every individual from a unique culture. My having adapted, thrived, and forged strong relationships with people of all shapes and backgrounds demonstrate my cultural mindfulness. I think this competence of mine would help me interact with patients without biases and with deeper empathy and