A lifetime that never was now lives in me. I never had a Korean Umma make comfort food for me. She never came to my side to make me Tteokbokki. It didn’t come to me. Not with extra rice cakes. Not with melted cheese. When I was 20 something I had it and later in my early 30s I…

Artwork by Cristina Rago, “Liberated” This is the body that came to America and struggled in a lily white world. This is the body that contains the soul which carries residual trauma of her birth mother. This is the body that feels language in her bones as memory and pain…

White Woman Privileges in Interracial Friendship Whenever I pick up my son at school, his friend’s mom and I make it a point to find one another. We’re not just friends because our kids go to school together. We have been good friends for years, and were even pregnant together…

Finding the courage to push back and further professionalize oneself is a journey in itself — I’d like to preface that I became the first professional athlete in my family at the age of 17. I remember bringing home my first check as a teaching professional in my chosen sport and my mom ripped the check out of my hands. “What? This is almost as much…

When I was in college, my Cross Country coach told the Women’s team in pre season one summer, that if we could make it through the first few weeks, our bodies would adapt. Lactic acid basically builds up and feels like complete shit working through a person’s body, especially running…

I have moments I am scared. I look at the numbers and I look at my numbers and they are all technically “my numbers” but I just owe so much more than What I am bringing in. I get scared. I get overwhelmed. I get frustrated. I get angry. I…

Lived experiences having been on both sides of the coin — Ah, Yes; Sharing Sweet, er, Awkward Memories of Times on the Road With a Veteran Athlete and Performance Artist Years ago, I sat in the Pro’s room at a rink chatting with my boss. It was early in the morning, definitely before 6am. I had hardly had a chance to sip the coffee I’d brought in from home. My baby sat next to me, as I often brought him…

Celebrate AAPI Heritage, celebrate being you. Not just this month — all year round. — The saying goes that the best things in life are free. Arguably so; as far as I’ve understood, merely being born Korean didn’t cost me a thing. Having the best of both worlds; I love being Korean American. Sharing the rich Korean heritage, customs…

A Word for Emerging Young Adults in Spaces of Power, Authority, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility Work I currently work in Higher Education specializing in matters pertaining to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It’s been a wonderful experience so far. I like my job very much. It’s mid level, white collar, and appropriate to where I am in life, education, and career goals at this time. It’s right…