Music has always been my passion, but teaching music? I love learning and singing choral music, but teaching was not my strongest suit. Everything changed when my choir director approached me to lead the school’s choir program. When I discovered junior year that I would be Alto One Section Leader in the choir, I was shocked, hesitant, and, most importantly, concerned that I would be incapable of holding the position. However, my director reassured me I would become a great leader due to my leadership skills and extensive musical knowledge. He emphasized my essential skills, like my sight-reading, and helped my peers sing the right notes and grow. As a result, I gained confidence in my ability to lead and pushed myself to accept the position. My first practice as a section leader was fast approaching. I convened with past section leaders and developed a preliminary plan to lead by effectively teaching music theory and technique. After the first few practices, I recognized my capabilities as a strong and effective leader. This motivated me to do anything to help others. I provided my peers with essential skills for choir, which prompted me to realize that I had also helped them on their future journey in music. I led practices and provided sheet music while creating soundtracks. Additionally, I helped enhance the overall performance of the choir by shifting the focus to critical values such as musicality, intonation, and balance. Through these actions, I taught my classmates music theory, vocal techniques, and health and encouraged them to enjoy singing together. Sometimes I wanted to give up or felt frustrated, but I had to remind myself that my role was essential to the choir's success. By pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I learned that growth only happens when you challenge yourself and take risks. Through being Alto One Section Leader, I became confident in my abilities, learned how to problem solve, and grasped the importance of building relationships with others--qualities I applied beyond the walls of choral music. Teaching music inspired me to become diligent after seeing the hard work of my peers pay off at performance. I am grateful for this opportunity, as it helped me develop crucial leadership skills that I can apply to other areas of my life. Teaching music was not my strongest suit, but it was one of my life's most significant and rewarding experiences.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any type of activity for a long time. I did ballet, jazz, hula, and even hip hop, but I never followed through because I found them uninteresting, and it was just simply not my style. This all changed when I was introduced to Korean popular dancing. I developed an interest in Korean pop music, turning it into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that Korean pop was more than just singing and fashion, there was dancing as well. “Maybe this is going to be different this time,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze learning this type of dance but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt so unnatural to me; nothing like what I was used to. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the dance movements right away like I did when I danced to jazz, hula, ballet, and hip hop. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for Korean popular music grew, my skills in dancing also developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts such as "girl crush" and "high school" to different groups like Red Velvet and NCT Dream. I practiced by learning and following dance tutorials on many YouTube accounts, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours every day: dancing after dark until I became utterly exhausted. During my freshman year in high school, I joined the dance team in the Korean pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how to improve. I attended workshops and conventions throughout southern California and even participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continued to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows, workshops, and dance concerts at my high school and even at my university. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you put your mind to it and you're willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any type of activity for a long time. I did ballet, jazz, hula, and even hip hop, but I never followed through because I found them uninteresting, and it was just simply not my style. This all changed when I was introduced to Korean pop dancing. I developed an interest in Korean pop music, turning it into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that Korean pop was more than just singing and fashion, there was dancing as well. “Maybe this is going to be different this time,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze learning this type of dance but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt so unnatural to me; nothing like what I was used to. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the dance movements right away like I did when I danced to jazz, hula, ballet, and hip hop. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for Korean pop music grew, my skills in dancing also developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts such as "girl crush" and "high school" to different groups like Red Velvet and NCT Dream. I practiced by learning and following dance tutorials on many YouTube accounts, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours every day: dancing after dark until I became utterly exhausted. During my freshman year in high school, I joined the dance team in the Korean pop club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how to improve. I attended workshops and conventions throughout southern California and even participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continued to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows, workshops, and dance concerts at my high school and even at my university. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you put your mind to it and you're willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

Growing up, I never seemed to grasp the importance of giving back. I was so accustomed to receiving gifts and presents without giving back. Yes, I have given presents and gifts before and shared them with others, but I did not truly realize why it was so important until I started helping other people and volunteering regularly. During the fall of my 6th-grade year, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings about this because we would be volunteering and assisting there instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud and bustling neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers and staff serving food to the homeless. I remember waiting in those long lines to get paper bags filled with fresh groceries, produce, and vegetables. While handing a bag filled with those groceries to a man wearing a beanie, worn-out sneakers, and baggy jeans, I looked up at him and noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy and delight, I thought about my day-to-day life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted, such as having the opportunity to easily gain access to numerous resources, namely, food. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought me happiness but also a desire to continue helping other people. Knowing that I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This experience motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact the community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to other people. As a result, I joined many volunteering organizations at my high school, such as Key Club International, Lions Club International, and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called Ayala West Coast Cleanup, with the mission being to clean our oceans, beaches, and parks. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community, allowing me to cherish that unforgettable memory forever. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and to learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

Be sure to take advanced classes such as honors and advanced placement classes! Colleges love seeing you take harder classes that challenge your intellectually and when you get good grades in them. It will also boost your grade point average which will impress many colleges and universities. In addition, if you take the advanced placement exams and pass with a three or higher, it can earn you elective credit in college meaning you can graduate earlier and have less credits to take, can place you into a higher level college class where you do not have to take some prerequisites, and can even take one or more class(es) off your college to do list! Instagram: @itz_alexissv

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for very long. I did hula, ballet, and even hip-hop, but I never decided to follow through because I found them uninteresting, and frankly, it wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, which soon turned into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but there was dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for K-pop music grew, my skills in dancing developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts to different groups. I practiced by following dance tutorials while trying to perfect them: learning various dances every day for KCON--a Korean culture and music festival, including showcasing various dancing skills. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until my body became exhausted. Fast forward to freshman year; I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how I should improve. I attended workshops and participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. Throughout this journey, I learned more about myself than I realized. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was so accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. Yes, I have given presents before and shared them with others, but I did not truly realize why it was so important until I started helping and volunteering regularly. During the fall of my 6th-grade year, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud and bustling neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in long lines to get bags filled with fresh groceries. While handing a bag containing a beanie and baggy jeans to one man, I looked up and noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought me happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This experience motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. As a result, I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club International and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission being to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and to learn the importance of help and others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was so accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. Yes, I have given presents before and shared them with others, but I did not truly realize why it was so important until I started helping and volunteering regularly. During the fall of my 6th-grade year, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud and bustling neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in long lines to get bags filled with fresh groceries. While handing a bag containing a beanie and baggy jeans to one man, I looked up and noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought me happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This experience motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. As a result, I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club International and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission being to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and to learn the importance of help and others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was so accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. Yes, I have given presents before and shared them with others, but I did not truly realize why it was so important until I started helping and volunteering regularly. During the fall of my 6th-grade year, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud and bustling neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in long lines to get bags filled with fresh groceries. While handing a bag containing a beanie and baggy jeans to one man, I looked up and noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought me happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This experience motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. As a result, I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club International and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission being to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and to learn the importance of help and others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for long. I did ballet and even hip-hop, but never followed through because I found them uninteresting, and wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, turning into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but there was dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but was presented with a challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for K-pop music grew, my skills in dancing developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts to different groups. I practiced by following dance tutorials, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until I became exhausted. Freshman year, I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how to improve. I attended workshops and participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. I have given presents before and shared them with others, but did not realize the importance until I started helping regularly. During 6th-grade, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in lines to get bags with groceries. Giving a bag to a man wearing baggy clothing, I noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for long. I did ballet and even hip-hop, but I never followed through because I found them uninteresting and it wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, turning into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts and groups. I practiced, following tutorials, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until I became exhausted. In my freshman year, I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how I should improve. I attended workshops, participating in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. Throughout this journey, I learned more about myself than I realized. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. I have given presents before and shared them with others, but did not realize the importance until I started helping regularly. During 6th-grade, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in lines to get bags with groceries. Giving a bag to a man wearing baggy clothing, I noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. I have given presents before and shared them with others, but did not realize the importance until I started helping regularly. During 6th-grade, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in lines to get bags with groceries. Giving a bag to a man wearing baggy clothing, I noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

Growing up, I never grasped the importance of giving. I was accustomed to receiving gifts without giving back. I have given presents before and shared them with others, but I did not realize the importance until I started helping regularly. During my 6th grade, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in lines to get bags with groceries. While giving the bag to one man wearing baggy clothing and a beanie, I noticed the thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts, making a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This motivated me to be more involved within my community. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus--West Coast Cleanup, with the mission to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for long. I did ballet and even hip-hop, but never followed through because I found them uninteresting, and wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, turning into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but there was dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but was presented with a challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for K-pop music grew, my skills in dancing developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts to different groups. I practiced by following dance tutorials, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until I became exhausted. Freshman year, I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how to improve. I attended workshops and participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for long. I did ballet and even hip-hop, but I never followed through because I found them uninteresting and it wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, turning into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts and groups. I practiced, following tutorials, trying to perfect them. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until I became exhausted. In my freshman year, I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how I should improve. I attended workshops, participating in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. Throughout this journey, I learned more about myself than I realized. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.

During the fall of my 6th-grade year, my parents signed us up to help distribute food to feed the homeless of Skid Row for Thanksgiving. I had mixed feelings because we would be volunteering instead of continuing our family tradition of attending a Thanksgiving party every year. The loud and bustling neighborhood in Los Angeles was flooded with volunteers serving the homeless. I remember waiting in long lines to get bags filled with fresh groceries. While handing a bag containing a beanie and baggy jeans to one man, I looked up and noticed the happy and thankful expression on his face. Through his joy, I thought about my daily life and began to understand that I take my everyday possessions for granted. It suddenly dawned on me -- having the chance to help someone not only brought me happiness but also a desire to continue helping others. Knowing I could touch their hearts and make a positive impact, big or small, was a heartwarming thought. This experience motivated me to be more involved within my community as well. I wanted to positively impact my community around me while also stressing the importance of giving back to others. As a result, I joined volunteering organizations at my school, namely, Key Club International and National Honor Society. I even established a club on campus called West Coast Cleanup, with the mission being to clean our oceans and beaches. My 6th-grade experience helped me connect to something larger than myself--to other people in my community. But above all, I understood that my parents wanted me to appreciate what I have and learn the importance of helping others, even if that means I do not get anything in return.

During my junior year of high school, I heard that someone very special to me would be moving far away. I loved and looked up to this person and needed them. I will miss you, dad… I learned that my dad had received a promotion in Oregon: 1,000 miles away from me. It was before dinner, and I held up the menu in front of me to hide my face full of tears; It was heartbreaking. I didn’t want him to leave because I wouldn’t know what to do without him. I walked into school with puffy eyes and red cheeks every day, struggling to keep my grades up, and staying on top of my extracurriculars and chores. I was happy that he had this incredible opportunity, but the physical distance broke me down. I neglected to realize how irreplaceable my dad was to me until he told me he was moving away. I distracted myself from grief by spending time with loved ones after three months of separation and started to develop new passions. I became more involved in my school’s choir, became the Secretary of the Student Executive Board, and on top of everything, became Alto 1 Section Leader. I spent more time with family and friends and even led several Key Club fundraisers for areas such as the Pediatric Trauma Program. Though I am not any less emotionally susceptible today, I have gained insight for ways to cope and overcome future challenges. I realized that my experiences allowed me to be emotionally stronger and prepared. I learned to value loved ones and let them know how much I appreciate them. On my birthday, he flew to my hometown and drove up to my house. “Hi, dad! I’ve missed you. I have so much to tell you.”

As a kid, I could never stay engaged in any activity for very long. I did hula, ballet, and even hip-hop, but I never decided to follow through because I found them uninteresting, and frankly, it wasn’t my style. This all changed when I was introduced to K-pop dancing. I developed an interest in K-pop music, which soon turned into a passion. I was ecstatic when I found out that K-pop was more than just singing, but there was dancing too. “Maybe this is going to be different,” I thought. I thought it was going to be a breeze, but I was presented with a true challenge. This dance style was completely new to me--unorthodox and arduous. The choreography was tricky and the techniques felt unnatural. I was frustrated yet intrigued at the same time because I was unable to perfect the movements right away. It felt like a challenge waiting to be defeated. While my love for K-pop music grew, my skills in dancing developed. I learned all types of choreographies, from different concepts to different groups. I practiced by following dance tutorials while trying to perfect them: learning various dances every day for KCON--a Korean culture and music festival, including showcasing various dancing skills. Craving for improvement, I practiced for hours: dancing after dark and until my body became exhausted. Fast forward to freshman year; I joined the dance team in the K-pop Club at my school where I received feedback on my skills and how I should improve. I attended workshops and participated in dancing challenges to further improve my techniques. I continue to enjoy demonstrating my skills by performing at talent shows and dance concerts. Throughout this journey, I learned more about myself than I realized. I learned that I have more tenacity and patience than I thought. My greatest discovery though is that learning new skills is not easy--it takes passion and perseverance, but if you’re willing to work hard, your goals can be achieved. And so, I’ve conquered the complexities of K-pop dancing. At least, only the first level.