“Wow, Fantastic Baby.” This is a line from Bigbang’s hit song “Fantastic Baby,” which remains one of the most iconic and watched K-pop music videos of all time. K-pop has garnered tremendous popularity because of its high-quality music, captivating choreography, and trendy fashion choices. So much of what characterizes K-pop and makes it so captivating has been greatly influenced by Bigbang. Despite the song being released in 2012, “Fantastic Baby” contains the essence of what makes K-pop so popular today. Bigbang is often referred to as the “Kings of K-pop” or “The Idol’s Idol” because of its influence on the current world-famous K-pop groups today, such as BTS and Blackpink. Bigbang is an older group that debuted in 2006. At the time, it was common for K-pop groups to be considered “factory products” as they were required to go through rigorous training periods and perform as directed. Despite having gone through a rigorous and strict training period, Bigbang didn’t let previous rules, culture, and perspectives limit their creative thoughts. Instead, they let the skills they acquired through rigorous training be the avenue to express their creativity and push the boundaries of K-pop. To become pioneers in new genres of music, performance, and fashion, Bigbang had to be bold. Bold in their music, bold in their fashion, and bold in their presentations. As one of the first K-pop groups to write, compose, and produce their own music, Bigbang set the foundation for K-pop groups to be bold, explore new ideas, and set new trends. Listening to Bigbang’s music from its debut to “Still Life,” their latest release, you can experience a wide range of music genres, from slow ballads to hip-hop. Bigbang is my favorite group because as Bigbang’s music has matured and evolved over time, I have also grown and matured through various life stages. Bigbang’s songs are anthems symbolizing multiple stages of my life. I remember singing along to Bigbang’s hit songs “Lies” and “Haru Haru” while I was in elementary school, riding in the back seat of my parents’ car. Bigbang’s “Alive” album was released in 2012 while I was in middle school. This album was filled with mixed music genres, such as R&B and EDM, which marked the transition of Bigbang’s evolution in music production. Their MADE album was another masterpiece released in 2015 while I was in high school. In 2022, they released perhaps their last single, “Still Life,” while I was preparing to apply for medical school after graduating from college. Bigbang is my favorite group because they were my companion and compatriot, supporting me through each stage of my life. Bigbang has made an enormous impact not only on my life but on their fans globally. Their music, fashion, and decisions have impacted generations of people, including world-famous idols like BTS. There is a reason they are known and recognized as the “Kings of K-pop.” What makes K-pop so appealing today is greatly influenced by Bigbang's boldness in their music, dance choreography, and fashion.

Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader, was once asked, “What surprises you most about humanity?” He responded, “Man sacrifices his health to make money, then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.” When I read this quote, I was immediately reminded of my parents. When my parents immigrated to the United States, they did not come with wealth or to build wealth. My parents came to provide me with better education and opportunities for wealth. To support me, they chose to work multiple demanding jobs. I remember hearing my father’s alarm go off at 4:45 am as he got ready for work. During the day, he worked at a dry cleaner, and at night he worked as a janitor, coming home past 10:00 pm. After years of labor-intensive work, they have not accumulated any financial wealth; instead, they have collected scars, burns, and injuries. My parents have given everything to support me to succeed despite their economic and linguistic challenges; therefore, it is with a gratitude-driven mentality that I look to give everything back to my parents and to restore the years of scars, burns, and injuries that they suffered for me - this is my definition of generational wealth. While generational wealth is generally understood to be capable of supporting one’s children and grandchildren, which I also aspire to do, my primary goal for generational wealth is to help my parents, the generation before me, for they have sacrificed their bodies and health for my success. Expanding on my definition of generational wealth, I also want to positively impact the generations of individuals from underprivileged backgrounds. While walking around a marginalized neighborhood with a student I was mentoring, I saw a tree with countless teddy bears hanging from it. I was appalled to learn that each bear symbolized the loss of a child’s life by gun violence. For my mentee, drugs, gun violence, and gangs were regular influences in his life, and all I wanted was to empower him to succeed despite his difficult background. On our last day together, I handed him my book bag filled with school materials and encouraged him to pursue his dream. It would be an honor to have the generational wealth that affects not only my parents and my children but the generations of another family. I plan to achieve all this by studying in medical school and becoming a physician. With my knowledge of medicine, I will care for my parents, helping them restore their health. In keeping them healthy, I will send my parents on many vacations they could not have had in the past twenty years, helping them enjoy their retirement and recover. Furthermore, as a physician, I will have opportunities to work in free clinics and with individuals from all walks of life. Through these patient encounters, I want to show humility by learning about their cultures and listening to their stories, identifying racial, social, and financial factors affecting their overall health. By gaining the respect of marginalized members of society, I hope to become a mentor to children and support them to achieve their versions of generational wealth.

When a potter molds clay to their heart's desire, it becomes a masterpiece; when an individual mold their life to their desires, it is the American dream. In essence, the American dream is unique to each individual as it takes shape after the originator's heart. The clay that I mold for my life is to become a physician who empowers and welcomes the most marginalized individuals through medicine and advocacy - this is my definition of the American dream. My parents immigrated to the U.S. in 2004, and as poor non-English-speaking immigrants, their lives were filled with challenges. I would hear my father's alarm go off at 4:45 AM as he got ready for work. During the day, he worked at a dry cleaner, and at night he worked as a janitor, coming home past 10:00 PM. There was one place, however, where their worries subsided: Dr. Chung's office. Understanding immigrants' obstacles, Dr. Chung took the time to listen to his patients and build patient relationships. As a kid, watching my parents find hope and calm as they spoke with Dr. Chung, I became curious about the possibilities of medicine - the potential of medicine thrilled me. Understanding that at the core of a physician was a heart to help others and a commitment to life-long learning, I sought opportunities to volunteer in underserved communities while pursuing my education. In one neighborhood I served, there was a tree with teddy bears hanging from it. I was appalled to learn that each bear symbolized the loss of a child's life by gun violence. Reflecting on these service experiences, I realized how larger system issues of social injustice can lead to health disparities in our communities. As my parents often hesitated to see a physician because of financial and accessibility issues, many families in these neighborhoods were not well connected to the healthcare system. Therefore, I want to become a physician who addresses my patients' health concerns and takes the time to recognize and care for patients' social, economic, and racial disparities. My journey to medicine, however, has not been so easy. As an undocumented and first-generation student, navigating the complex college application process was challenging. Colleges often viewed me as an international student and required me to pay international tuition, which my family could not afford. It was only by applying for scholarships and working to save since I was 16 that I was gratefully able to attend the University of Virginia. In college, I continued to work and translate for immigrant families as I pursued the pre-med track while majoring in Kinesiology. Through my challenges, I learned that through perseverance and determination, I could pave a path to pursue my goals even if it seemed near impossible. Currently, I am a Georgetown University student obtaining my master's in physiology before attending medical school in 2024. Though the odds may not be in my favor because of my citizen status, I believe I can mold my life into my American dream with enough persistence, resilience, and dedication.