ICAS Bulletin
Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc.
Crystal Cha-Young Her
ICAS Volunteer
Dear Friend:
We are pleased to share with you that Crystal
Cha-Young Her has been appointed as ICAS Volunteer, effective immediately. As such,
Crystal joins a circle of
membership of the ICAS Youth Excellence Program (www.icasinc.org/youth/youth.html).
Below is her own autobiography.
Crystal Cha-Young Her was born in Ee-Jung-Boo,
South Korea. My mother was born in Ma-San. She had a particular accent. By the mother
language, I also used the Ma-San accent. And when I went to elementary school, my
friends teased me about the accents. Since I began how to speak, I had multiple
identities. I was a citizen of Ee-Jung-Boo and also Ma-San. My identity was not
fixed in one place. After I came to the U.S. in year 2000, my identities have become
more complex. I am a Korean, but also can be an American, too. My dad is a grandmaster
of Tae Keuk Kumdo Kwan and sometimes American people came and ask for lesson. Then
I am the mediator who helps both parties by being an interpreter. Also, I translate
English into Korean for my parents or to other Koreans who cannot speak English.
I am seventeen years old and going to be senior this year in North Penn High School.
I want to go to college and study for bilingualism and psychology. Then, I want
to, after college, study more about religion. After that, I want to get a doctorate
degree to be a counselor. In the U.S., Korean-American counselor is the job that
requires speaking both Korean and English. To reduce one's anger or stress, counselor
has to know about the environments around the one. If the counselor does not know
about U.S. or culture, he/she cannot communicate with patient. Also, if Korean-American
counselor cannot speak Korean, when they are counseling Koreans, he/she cannot also
communicate with patient. So I want to be the counselor who can speak both Korean
and English fluently and know well about both Korean and American culture to be
interchangeable mediator.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sang Joo Kim / signed
Sr. Fellow & Executive Vice President
ICAS
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