NCLC 2019

Throughout my life, I have felt an ever-increasing distance between myself and my Korean American identity. While I was adequately acquainted with other Korean Americans during my middle school years, we ended up attending different high schools, severing my connections with them. My Asian identity further deteriorated when I attended a predominately white high school. I managed to make plenty of friends, yet the differences in our cultures meant that finding relatable experiences to discuss was always a strenuous activity. I became distanced from my own culture, leaving me with a concealed dissatisfaction that I never realized until I attended the NCLC conference. ​ Spending five days with Korean Americans and listening to their life stories was an experience that revitalized my Korean American identity. My initial apprehension of the conference quickly disappeared as I realized how necessary it was for me to reconnect with my own identity. If I ever wanted to be able to achieve the same level of success as the speakers, then I need to first learn how to be comfortable being a Korean American. It was inspiring to see the past generation of my community achieve success and listen to the wisdom they could impart to future generations. The shared backgrounds of all the members of the conference ensured that the experience was one that we would all be able to relate to and learn from. It truly taught me the importance of culture and the role it plays in identity and connection. The relationships and experiences that were made during the conference are experiences that I am glad to have partaken in. It strengthened my sense of self-identity, but most importantly, reconnected me to the cultural roots of my character.