"My interest in East Asia stems from my personal background. I grew up in Shanghai, China, as a Korean American, so I was naturally immersed in Chinese culture and language from a young age. I’ve always had a fascination with languages, which led me to learn Japanese in addition to Chinese. Through this, I realized how deeply interconnected East Asia is, with centuries of shared and intertwined histories between China, Korea, and Japan. The rich historical relationships among these countries captivate me and continue to fuel my curiosity and interest in the region. Additionally, I aspire to work in the art and entertainment field, specifically in media, where I hope to shape my career around importing and exporting media between East Asia and America, bridging cultural gaps through creative content."