Mixed | Teen Ink

Mixed

April 6, 2016
By ArtsyAuthor PLATINUM, Oakland, New Jersey
ArtsyAuthor PLATINUM, Oakland, New Jersey
21 articles 1 photo 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
"At first you don't succeed, try, try again."


My friends carry different heritages from their ancestors. They are Irish, German, Italian, and Russian all put together in a single body. They don't have a simple, sole tradition, but they don't care.

 

Unlike me.

 

My parents are purely Korean, but I was born and raised in America. That makes me entirely Korean by blood, but half American. It leaves me unsure of what I am.


I am excessively proud of my home country, but my Korean sounds off and I can barely read it. Writing it is impossible. I don't really celebrate Korean holidays, much less know Korean customs. I don't know anything about the history and geography of my ancestry.


As for my American element, my peers admit that I possess an accent when speaking English, but I know much about American history and geography. I excel at reading and writing in English for my age. Besides some exceptions, I celebrate American holidays.


It may seem that I'm more American than Korean, but I don't agree. Just because I know more about America doesn't mean that tips the scale. Then again, not knowing about my heritage doesn't help the Korean part of me either.

 

I feel like the main character from the book, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have two types of people within me, and I'm not sure which side I am on. I'm torn between these different cultures from different continents.

 

However, whatever waits for me in the future, whatever happens, I know one thing. 


I'm proud to be Korean-American. That's who I am.



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This article has 1 comment.


on Apr. 9 2016 at 11:31 am
L.J.Barnes. GOLD, Powhatan, Virginia
15 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
Avoid roasted cabbage, don't eat earwax and look on the bright side of life!
~Angela the Herbalist

Good job! I like the conclusion and concept. However the one thing that might make this even better would be if you added a little personal adecodote of how you fit into both cultures. It would add to the tension in this piece.. But good job on the editors choice and front page of teenink!