We were lucky to catch up with Hayoung (Hannah) Kim recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hayoung (Hannah), we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
One of the reasons I ended up studying School Psychology is the series of challenges and experiences I faced from the age of 9 to 17, attending a total of 4 elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools in total across three countries—Korea, New Zealand, and the USA.
When I moved from Korea to New Zealand, I encountered cultural and linguistic barriers. Then, transitioning from New Zealand to the USA, I faced cultural and pronunciation barriers. Finally, moving back to Korea from the USA, I once again encountered challenges with culture and language. The English I had to catch up to survive became a negative label upon returning to my own country among some students—I was seen as someone who “brags about speaking English and is unlikeable.”
Due to my shy nature, making friends was extremely difficult each time I moved schools. In fact, during my high school years, after transferring to a school in the USA, I spent about two weeks eating lunch alone in a bathroom stall, avoiding the eyes of other kids.
Ultimately, my experiences became both a strength and an advantage. They helped me gain admission to the university I desired, particularly in Korea, where proficiency in English is emphasized. I also taught English for about 6 years at English academies and English kindergarten, where the pay was quite decent compared to other jobs.
As a current second-year Ph.D. student, it is essential for me to keep getting back up, even though I fall. My past experiences motivate me to get back on track to become a competent School Psychologist. They help me realize that there’s no obstacle in life that I can’t overcome. I now know that in the end, all my experiences, whether good or bad, will become the stepping stones to providing a broader perspective on the world and staying resilient.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
One of the reasons I chose this path is because I hope to prevent other children from experiencing the same hardships I went through.
My goal is to support children of multicultural, diverse backgrounds, like myself, to adapt well to new countries, cultures, languages, learning environments, and relationships, despite linguistic and cultural differences.
I aim to intervene psychologically and academically to ensure that a multicultural background doesn’t become an obstacle or a weakness in a child’s education.
While my ultimate goal is to work for the benefit of all Korean children, I hope that my multicultural background becomes my competency to support children with a broader, deeper understanding.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Don’t be shy. Be consistent. Try new things.
One advice I give to my fellow Korean students is to not be shy when asking others to help you. In many east-Asian cultures, many people worry that they might be bothering them. I always tell them that it’s okay to bother them a bit—everyone had their firsts.
Don’t give up. Your consistency, work, and effort will pay off. It might not seem like you’re making huge progress right now. However, later on in your life, you’ll realize the improvement.
Don’t let anything hinder you from trying new things—as long as it’s not harmful. When you have to decide whether you should do it or not, most of the time, it’s better to do it than regret not doing it.
I did working holidays in Australia and went to Germany for an exchange student program. I traveled as much as I can, exploring the culture of each country I visited. Each and every culture is so unique and intriguing!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Having at least one healthy hobby is crucial for your mental health.
Taking a short walk, listening to music, watching a movie, eating something delicious, talking to a loved one, or taking a nap—all of these can help you live another day.
Get to know yourself. Find out what you like. Find out what helps you. Explore many options.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: hannnahkiiim
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayoung-hannah-kim-364258130/
