Yesterday night, I went to a flute recital with my flute teacher, and it turned out to be such a special experience. The concert, titled "Exotic," held at the Recital Hall in the Seoul Arts Center, was a truly exotic experience! The program included pieces I'd never heard live before, by Dvořák, Novačić, Gade, Piazzolla, and Rodrigo, each with a different mood, joined by a pianist and bassoonist for added depth. I have a concert coming up at Carnegie Hall, so my flute teacher

Taking the Entrepreneurship: Exploring What It Takes to Create Your Own Business course through USC’s Pre-College Program was a truly meaningful experience for me. Even though I took the course online, it was still a great learning experience and gave me a new perspective on the field of business. I am so grateful to the USC Pre-College Program team for creating this amazing opportunity and for giving me the chance to learn from Professor Glenn Fox. More than anything, this c

This summer, I spent a week in Prague with my family, my mom’s friend, and my aunt, and it turned out to be a truly memorable trip. The city felt like something out of a story, with its historic buildings and quiet streets. We visited some of the most famous sites, including Prague Castle, the cathedral, the basilica, and Golden Lane. I also had the chance to attend a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which was an unforgettable experience. On the Charles Bridge, there we

Music has continued to be one of the most meaningful parts of my school life, and this year was filled with so many accomplishments and memories that I will always treasure. At this year’s music awards ceremony, I was honored to receive my second year lettering in Concert Band, my Tri-M Music Honor Society patch, and the Flute Section Leader Award Certificate. Additionally, I am happy to announce that I will be continuing my role as Flute Section Leader in Concert Band for th

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Korea Business Competition × Hult International Business School alongside five of my teammates — Bria, Olivia, Hanna, Maria, and Elisha. It was definitely one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences of my high school career. The competition began on April 17th, 2026, with a preliminary Zoom round consisting of 27 teams. We advanced as one of the top 8 finalists after winning all three rounds, which put

Last September, I was honored to speak at the TEDxDosan Park Youth event. My talk, “My Identity Crisis: How I See Myself Versus How the World Sees Me,” was about the quiet tension between who I feel I am and how I am perceived by others. Growing up across Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cultures, I’ve often felt like I exist in between spaces rather than fully within one. There are moments when these identities feel harmonious, but also times when they seem to pull me in differ

This week, I had the privilege of tutoring Ann, a girl from Russia who is interested in improving her Korean language skills in order to pursue her education (and hopefully attend university in South Korea). We had a 40-minute session where we started off with basic conversations, and the experience was amazing! Working with someone so passionate about learning another language and immersing herself in a different culture reminded me of how language can connect people from co

Beginning in early July of 2025, I started working on one of the most meaningful personal projects I have taken on: writing my own book. As someone of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese descent, my multicultural background has greatly shaped my understanding and interpretation of what culture actually means. With this interest of mine, I spent the next several months researching and drafting ideas. And after a long journey of writing, revising, and reflecting, I’m proud to share t

I just finished reading Good to Great by Jim Collins, a book discussing what separates successful companies from truly exceptional ones, and I wanted to share my experience and insights. One of the ideas that stood out to me most was Collins’s concept of “Level 5 Leadership,” which characterizes great leaders as those who possess a combination of humility and strong will. Instead of seeking attention or personal fame, these leaders focus on helping their company and team succ

At the beginning of 2026, I was elected Campaign Coordinator for the Korean Youth Honor Society (KYHS). In this role, I design quarterly social media campaigns using Canva, creating visually engaging posters to raise awareness of global issues. So far, I have led two campaigns. The first, “War Destroys, Peace Restores,” focused on the impact of conflict and the importance of peace. The second, “Keep Our Planet Green,” highlighted environmental responsibility and sustainabilit

This third trimester, I proposed and led a middle school after-school activity called Young Entrepreneurs Club. Through weekly lessons, activities, and discussions, Philip (my co-leader) and I introduced middle school students to the foundations of business and entrepreneurship, and towards the end, it culminated in the students building and presenting their own business pitch. Although we only met a total of nine times, I was amazed by how much we were able to accomplish! T

It is an honor to announce that, after months of preparation and hard work, we have officially concluded the LEAD: AI x Business Online Youth Program. After connecting with She Wires Words, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, through my organization, Business For Youth, I was able to bring together a team of 6 high school students to turn a mere vision to life. By combining Business For Youth’s mission of making business education more accessible with She Wires Words’ focus o