Meaning and Values

This chapter could not have come at a more perfect time in regards to my own personal journey. I have definitely been on a "quest for identity" (Corey & Corey, 2008), and I have been fortunate enough to finally feel that my life is heading in the direction I had always envisioned. The section of the chapter that held the most meaning to me was on diversity. I will admit that as I grew up I was taught to deny one part of my cultural heritage, that being that I am half Korean. I had always wanted to learn how to speak Korean, but my mother always disagreed with teaching me how to speak Korean. I retaliated by enrolling myself in three semesters of Korean while I attended Temple University. I can only speak a small amount of Korean, but it gave me the opportunity to embrace my cultural background. My mother always pushed that I should not learn how to speak Korean because she wanted me to be White.

In addition to growing up in a very rural town in central Pennsylvania, I also had to overcome the struggles I had with accepting my sexual orientation. I know that this was what my presentation was on, but I find it extremely important that, as school counselors in the making, we gain multicultural competence (Corey & Corey, 2008). I only read a part of the chapter before I decided to take a break and go on Facebook, and that's when I found this story from Huffington Post, "Coming Out Across Cultural Barriers: A Mixed-Race Son's Journey With His Korean Immigrant Mother." This story could not have been more identical to mine as I read it. I also went on to check out the Dari Project which was created by Mark Ro Beyersdorf to raise awareness of LGBT issues in the Korean community. I actually requested two copies of the publication, one for myself and one for my mother. Mother's Day will mark one year since I have talked to her, and I hope by sending her this information she will at least take a moment to see what it is about.

I have finally reached a point in my life where I have developed my own meanings and values. Just being in the school counseling program has enabled me to realize and appreciate the diversity among all of us. I walk into every single one of my classes excited to learn, comfortable enough to contribute, and able to build relationships with people that I can honestly say I trust.

Reference
Corey, G., & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in personal growth (9th ed.). Belmont, California: Thompson Brooks/Cole.


And if you're interested in the websites I wrote about:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-ro-beyersdorf/coming-out-across-cultural-barriers_b_3197020.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false


http://www.dariproject.org/