Growing up as half-Korean/half-White in a non-diverse area meant

being teased and mocked, leading me to become ashamed of my Asian background. Since I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to appreciate my heritage. In Highschool for 2 years, I studied abroad in South Korea (my mother’s native country). It was the best periodO of my life. The culture felt familiar as a result of the lifestyle I grew up in. However, I was still an obvious foreigner. I remember that before leaving America, someone had told me that I’ll “finally be surrounded by people who look like you.” In actuality, as Korea is an extremely homogenous country, most natives simply saw me as full White. This was interesting — I’d never been “White-passing.” I realized that in America, I’m Asian; in Asia, I’m White. Being mixed and never fully feeling that you’re accepted or “enough” of one race or the other, and experiencing somewhat of an ‘identity crisis’ as different people see you differently can be hard. I’ve been told, “You’re not White.” Likewise, I’ve been told, “You’re not Korean.” Well...Joke’s on you; I’m equally both, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🇺🇸🇰🇷