I dreamed of someday becoming one of the heroes in the blue scrubs because they save lives, and saving lives is the noblest thing one can do.

Just like every other teenager, I went through a point in my life where I was lost and confused in determining the person I wanted to become for the remainder of my life. My dad, who is a retired United States Marine, became my anchor at this time of uncertainty and helped me discover my passion for biology and healthcare. Growing up in a household under his mentorship, I was constantly pushed to be the best version of myself and apply discipline to my life the way my dad learned in the military. He taught me everything from how to take care of my body through nutrition and exercise, how to become a more accountable person by creating a daily routine, and even seemingly simple things such as how to make my bed the way he was taught in boot camp. The installment of military-influenced living fused with the traditional element of parental guidance in the household set me up to become a responsible and goal-oriented person with a strong mindset to achieve my ultimate career aspirations and not settle for less. Social psychologist Dr. David McClelland of Harvard once said that “the people you habitually associate with determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure in life.” One of the most important lessons I learned from my dad during my time in high school was to surround myself with positive influences: people that were constantly trying to be more successful than the day before and expected nothing but the best out of themselves and others. My desire to enter this competitive field of medicine roots in the opportunity to surround me with others like myself who are always pushing themselves to their limits academically and are not afraid to put in the work necessary to be successful. I believe that having a support system built off discipline and positivity like that of my dad is priceless and gave me direction on my goals and career aspirations. When I was younger, my dad would always share his war stories and his time in battle in The Gulf War and all the friends he made during his time in the military that I was fortunate enough to meet. The stories he would tell would always leave me in awe, inspiring me to follow in his footsteps and instilling a sense of pride in serving the country. With both a father and grandfather who served in the military (marines), I’ve been able to learn about the brotherhood in service that gave them their closest bonds in life and influenced me to keep close only to those who had the best intentions for me.

Initially, clothing was first and foremost a social statement of who I was and how I wanted to represent myself in the world. It was a means of expressing my own style and personality, but mainly a way to fit in. As I went to live on my own for the first time in college, the need to save money became a practical problem. So, I looked to thrifting to save money. Thrifting introduced a common ground for me to find unique clothing and enjoy morally responsible, affordable shopping. However, learning about fast fashion and the problems that are rooted in the fashion industry made me reflect on the deeper impact of my decisions. This understanding shifted my focus on clothes as a means of expression to learning about and bringing awareness of our generation's responsibility to promote sustainability, as well as practical solutions to existing problems. I'm inspired by the fact that my beliefs can be translated into my reality through my actions. Simple compliments, such as, "I love your pants! Where did you get them?" can spark an opportunity to share what I've learned about thrifting second-hand, environmental and social problems, and impact those around me. Every piece of clothing had a story for me to share and helps facilitate reflective conversations on learning about alternatives to traditional consumer habits and ways to improve the world we all share. Clothing remains a way for me to express who I am, but it has also been the gateway to making more responsible environmental decisions and finding renewed confidence in myself with the knowledge that I am having a positive influence through my actions. Now, there is so much more to consider as a consumer from pollution to trade and human rights issues to ethical decisions. Creativity is about self-expression, self-growth, sharing ideas and inspiring others. Thrifting and clothes served as a platform for me to integrate and enhance my creative side and passions with environmental conservation, social justice, and sustainability in a way that is constructive and morally conscious. Living in the new and constantly developed town of St. Johns, Florida, it is very difficult to find thrift stores due to the more essential need for retail stores such as Walmart and Target. Though I may not be able to fund a thrift store for the town, I hope to use social media as a means to popularize my thrifting meets and groups in St Johns even more, as well as spread the message of the environmental benefits that thrifting brings. Every thrift meet is a reminder to be more conscious of our carbon footprint and the world we leave behind for the next generation, and I hope to spread the message to a bigger audience through the use of my online presence and marketing skills. Though the materials and patterns of thrifted clothing may not cost much, the story behind each piece and the environmentally friendly movement it represents is invaluable.

Symbolic of the yin-yang philosophy, I am Korean American. Having grown up with all the subtle nuances of two cultures clashing and complimenting each other to find a perfect balance. I've had to reconcile the expectations of my Korean parents and culture with my own ideals, which have not always been aligned. The singular focus my parents had growing up on the pursuit of academic success often translated into the feeling that my parents wanted to control every aspect of my life. Before attending college, it was difficult to empathize with their approach which oftentimes left me feeling frustrated and express myself. The struggle for my parents to understand and acknowledge the existence of the idea of good mental health initially led to depression, as it made me feel alone and unable to talk about my feelings to even my own parents. The high expectations that were set for me as well as the constant need to be "perfect" created a fear of failure within me. This fear and depression made it difficult for me to make friends in school, as I lived a life that wasn't valued by the connections I made and the quality of my happiness, but rather by the career I ultimately earn. Deciding to move away from home for college allowed me the space to explore who I am outside of my parents' framework. I started to explore what made me happy for the first time from hobbies and interests as simple as eating healthy to more complicated explorations of how to incorporate sustainability into my life. Experiencing the extreme contrast between a micromanaged life dominated by strict Korean values and independence supported my understanding of the balance of the two and how to live a more stress-free life. Like many children of immigrant parents, I learned the hard way that my parents weren't perfect, but that they did the best with what they had. I found that by becoming more open-minded myself, I was able to better appreciate everything my parents had sacrificed for me and to see the bigger picture of their intentions beyond the imperfections. Now that I have the opportunity to cultivate my sense of self and mental well-being, I have found that I'm much more expansive in both my ideals and values. By challenging myself to prioritize my family, culture, and causes bigger than myself, I am motivated to constantly better myself and make a positive impact on everyone around me, as well as find appreciation and happiness in the little details of my life.

I fondly remember a memory when I was younger of a day when my parents refused to tell me how babies came into existence, deeming that my eight-year-old self was too young to know. But as an aspiring physician-to-be, how could I possibly be too young? After extensive Googling and some eyebrow-raising images of the human anatomy later, I discovered the truth. I seek to discover more truths. I’m gripped by how mankind’s problems derive from the way the body works: cell-to-cell interactions, the brain’s comprehension of electrical impulses, and—yes—even reproduction. Through my self-research on the internet, I’ve only scratched the surface of heart tissue reconstructions, but I’m still mesmerized by other mysteries: “How’ll we ever cure viruses, cancers, and osteoarthritis?” The human body is a wonderful thing. To think that one cell becomes this complex organism with all its parts working together at a microscopic level will always perplex me. Additionally, seeing all the amazing feats that the human body can accomplish from Usain Bolt's 27 mph top speed to Edmund Hillary's scaling of Mount Everest bring about a new appreciation of the human body and all that it can do. I hope one day to understand this beautiful creation and save lives with this knowledge. Growing older has raised more questions than my younger self could ever think to ask. However, now having the resources to discover these truths, the only thing stopping me from answering these questions is myself, and whether I am ambitious enough to educate myself in my interests. As I slowly grow out of my teen years, my innocent view of the world fades with it. Yet, some ideas remain, and the little boy in me still dreams of being a superhero who saves lives and brings positive change to those around him. But I'm no longer talking about the types of superheroes that wear capes in movies. Rather, I'm referring to the doctors of the world who save lives in the operating rooms of their hospitals. I have come to realize that this linear path of graduating, going to medical school, and finding a medical residency program has given me a purpose and goal in life. It truly must be a rewarding life to be able to go to work every day knowing that you may be saving another person's life. This rewarding thought is what constantly inspires me to pursue a career in the medical field, in hopes of one day being that superhero. As biology births my curiosity-driven pursuit of medicine, I’ll tell my parents, “I’m finally old enough to know.”