Personal Narrative: My Commitment To Diversity

My commitment to diversity began at a young age from my experiences of being marginalized, underestimated, and undervalued as a result of who I am. 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 difficulties and challenges I experienced during my formative years going back and forth between South Korea and the United States 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 United States by kids in my neighborhood and peers at a Korean elementary school, my parents transferred me to

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 attack 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. Thus, 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