I am a South Korean adoptee…

I am a South Korean adoptee.

But they throw at me:

“Chinese”

“Japanese”

“Vietnamese”

“North Korean”

Even “Latina”

They say to me:

“You don’t look South Korean.”

“Say something in Korean.”

“All Asians look the same.”

“You only got that answer right ‘cause you’re Asian.”

“Why aren’t you using chopsticks?”

“Why don’t you listen to K-pop?”

“Why does your mom have a different skin color than you?”

I am a South Korean adoptee.

I am not your stereotypes, thoughts, or questions.

I hate when you stabbed me with demoralizing assumptions.

I hate when you think I am a ‘model minority.’

I am so much more than what you think.

Your misbeliefs have hurt me.

But they also have empowered me.

I no longer silence those questions and beliefs running around in my head.

I use those painful experiences to inspire myself.

To remind myself that I am not those questions or thoughts.

I am me.

Not what you ask or think about me.

I am a South Korean adoptee.

But I am so much more than that.

I am proud to be me.

Society’s expectations of Asians are horrible.

But, with every thought and demoralizing questions

That is thrown at me,

I fight back harder than the last.

Simply because

I don’t want society to win.

If I appear defeated,

Society has done its job.

It wants to win.

But so, do I,

Because fellow Asians have lost

Far too many times.

I will keep fighting society’s misbeliefs,

Until it realizes

I am a South Korean adoptee.

But above that,

A fighter,

Through and through.

Society’s misbeliefs aren’t right

And never will be.

I am South Korean adoptee.