I was born in Chicago and have lived in picturesque suburbia ever since. I participate in various clubs at my high school, such as Spanish National Honors Society, Model UN, Science Club, National Honors Society, and volunteer at the local hospital. And although I enjoy being an involved student, I also love just catching a movie with my friends, eating galbi at a family barbeque, and sleeping for long periods of time. While continuing my passion for creative writing, I also hope to pursue a career in medicine and become a doctor.

I entered this competition because it offered me an opportunity to express my gratitude towards the struggles my parents have undergone as first generation Korean-Americans. It is an appreciation that I have never been able to confess to them openly. But through this essay, I was able to break out of the God complex that many teenagers suffer from and acknowledge the sacrifices my parents have made so that I could have a better life. And as cliché as that may sound, it is the reason why my parents are my personal heroes.

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