KAGC Student Spotlight: Emily Kang, Pepperdine University
“Change can start with having conversations about voter mobilization, understanding what effective policy implementation looks like, and working towards making a positive impact.”
Just Be Yourself. Those were the three words my parents would tell me every day. However, growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I was an outsider in my class. They looked at me differently, teased me for eating Korean food and called me racial slurs. Being Korean American always led to the follow-up question: “North or South’’ and the discrimination never ceased to stop. I wanted to stand up for myself and say, “What makes me so different?” But I felt scared, unable to muster the courage to fight back. And because I struggled to embrace both my Korean and American identity, my voice was never heard, and no one cared to accept me for who I was. I was embarrassed and upset. In a country so diverse, I wanted to know why it was so hard for people in my town to understand me. When I spoke with my parents, they reminded me to focus on myself and those who love and care for me.
As I entered my first year of high school, that’s when it hit me. Why was I suppressing my feelings? I was brought back to my daily routine at home and the large gatherings my parents would host for Chuseok, Seollal, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The memory of my brother and I saying, “다녀왔습니다 (da-nuh-wah-seum-nee-dah)” after a long day at school. And the fusion of Korean and American foods: the aroma of my mom’s doenjang jjigae, gyeran jjim, kimchi, galbi jjim, bbq ribs, salmon, and potato salad filled the hallways; the family night Kdramas and Korean movies; listening to Korean music from artists like Big Bang, S.E.S, and Lee Moonsae. And my parents’ voices echoed as they called us to the dining table, “밥 먹자!” That’s where I felt safe.
Comfortable. Welcomed with open arms.
My Korean heritage and culture have made me who I am today. My parents’ sacrifice and dedication will never go unnoticed. Reminding myself of the hardships and discrimination I faced, a newfound sense of passion surged through me. The lack of Asian American representation in politics combined with the unfolding of hate crimes and tragedies at the height of the COVID pandemic, formed an increasing amount of curiosity and motivation within me to step into the world of public service. I believe our voice must be heard and recognized for real change. Change can start with having conversations about voter mobilization, understanding what effective policy implementation looks like, and working towards making a positive impact.
This summer, I had an incredible experience interning at the US Department of Transportation. Working directly for Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Public Affairs team was an eye-opening experience. It gave me an inside look into all the hard work our team does on a daily basis. I had the opportunity to work with the media team and the media specialist to put together new video and post ideas, track various transportation grants to highlight and film for special events. I came out of this experience with a better understanding of how valuable our transportation system is and Secretary Pete’s work to communicate to the Biden-Harris administration and Congress about what policies must be considered and implemented. Making transportation safer for all riders, regardless of their race, must happen. In that sense, I want to ensure that the Asian American community continues to get the support and recognition they deserve in all spheres of society.
I want to encourage other students interested in pursuing a career in public service to delve into KAGC’s Congressional Fellowship and other programs that they have to offer. It was encouraging to see other Korean American fellows come together with similar interests and goals, to discuss our experiences growing up and what we hope to accomplish in our future careers.
My mentor used to tell me: “Find your bearing” and find people who will support you and lead you in the right direction. Ultimately, it means that you should never stop chasing after your dreams, and to not let anyone push you down. Being a part of the KAGC Congressional fellowship program was both rewarding and memorable. Having a tight-knit Korean American community in Washington, DC, and hearing about all the hard work everyone was doing, makes me excited to bring that energy back to California as I continue to advocate for Asian American rights.
Emily Kang is a 2023 KAGC Congressional Fellow who worked for the Public Affairs team at the US Department of Transportation. As a rising Junior at Pepperdine University, Emily will continue to represent her class as Senator in her school’s Student Government Association as well as being the Public Relations lead at Pepperdine’s Korean American Student Association.
Click here to learn more about KAGC, the largest nationwide network of Korean American voters for opportunities to share the Korean American identity, discuss the key issues of our community, and get our voices heard, counted, and reflected in public policy.
