I was adopted in Korea along with my biological brother into the same family. They were stationed in South Korea, and I immigrated to the US after our adoption. I was raised in Central Texas in a predominantly white community with few racial mirrors and even fewer cultural socializations. While in that environment, I was taught to ignore the racism and microaggressions I experienced, which caused me to deny my identity and curiosity until much later in life. 

In 2021, I went back to school to research the adoptee identity for myself and others. I found community among fellow adoptees while studying education. My research on Racial and Cultural Socialization for Identity Reclamation was awarded the Social Impact award at the GMU 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium. I have been a plenary speaker, maedup facilitator and a Korean culture class coordinator for adult adoptees at Asia Families. In May 2026, I was chosen to be a part of a cohort of esteemed adoptee leaders from around the world to present policy recommendations to the Overseas Korean Agency on behalf of the global Korean adoptee communities. 

I am honoring my truth and reclaiming my identity by educating myself, my children who are descendants of adoption and anyone on their own adoptee identity journey.