Kalila H (Class of 2023)

Summary

The speaker, raised bilingually in Korean and English, attended a French school and learned Spanish. They felt a cultural disconnect in both the US and Korea but valued their mother's insistence on Korean language. Interested in political science and media studies, they were involved in broadcasting, student council, and yearbook design. They also participated in fundraising for a city in the Philippines. Transitioning from a French system to the IB was challenging, but supportive teachers and engaging classes, like Miss Heap's math, made it worthwhile. Friends who did IB in high school and university confirm its rigorous preparation.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Grew up bilingual in Korean and English, and attended a French school.
• 🏫 Chose Spanish as an additional language to study in school.
• 🌀 Faced identity challenges, feeling neither Western nor Asian enough.
• 👩‍🏫 Impactful experience of being raised by a Korean mother who insisted on speaking Korean.
• 🎓 Considering a major in political science and a minor in media studies.
• 📺 Participated in broadcasting, which sparked interest in media.
• 🗣️ Was part of the student council, influencing the decision to study political science.
• 📔 Joined the yearbook team, an unexpected but enjoyable experience.
• 💼 Involved in fundraising for Tanauan City, Philippines, through various drives and awareness campaigns.
• 📚 Transitioning from a French system to the IB was challenging but ultimately rewarding.
• 👩‍🏫 Enjoyed math class with Miss Heap, who made learning engaging and fun.
• 🤝 Made friends who also did the IB, preparing them for the rigors of university.

Q & A

What languages did the speaker grow up speaking?

The speaker grew up speaking Korean, English, and French.

Why was the speaker sent to a French school?

The speaker's parents sent them to a French school when they were very young.

What additional language did the speaker study in school?

The speaker studied Spanish in school.

How did the speaker feel about not being considered Western enough in the US or Asian enough in Korea?

The speaker found it a little bit hard to adjust to at first.

What impact did the speaker's Korean mother have on their language skills?

The speaker's Korean mother forcing them to speak the language since they were a kid was very impactful and rewarding.

What is the speaker considering as their major in university?

The speaker is considering a major in political science and a minor in media studies.

What extracurricular activities did the speaker participate in at school?

The speaker was part of the broadcasting team, student council, yearbook team, and the fundraising team.

What did the speaker learn from being part of the broadcasting team?

The speaker learned about media, which was very interesting to them.

How did being part of the student council impact the speaker's decision to study political science?

Being part of the student council probably impacted the speaker's decision to study political science.

What was the speaker's experience with the IB (International Baccalaureate) system?

The speaker found transitioning from a French system to the IB challenging but was encouraged to branch out and try different things.

What was a memorable experience the speaker had in Miss Heap's math class?

A memorable experience was having a large cahoot at the end of the class where funny quotes from students were used as a guessing game.

How did the speaker's friends who did IB in high school and university perceive the difficulty of university courses?

The speaker's friends who did IB in high school and university said that university courses are as hard as IB, so the speaker believes that IB has prepared them well.