I, an Ingredient in the Melting Pot

My parents are immigrants from South Korea. I was born and raised in the United States. My experiences growing up have been characterized by the clashing of two cultures: my parents’ Korean culture and the American culture in which I grew up. When I was younger, I used to think that the two cultures were incompatible, and that I would have to choose one over the other. In a short time, however, I came to understand that this was never the case. In embracing the best of both Korean and American cultures, I see my experiences as no different from those of first generation Italian, Irish, or English immigrants. My cultural assimilation has been predominantly American; my upbringing, something of which I am proud.

One of the biggest cultural differences between America and Korea can be observed in the societal views of education. In Korea, a well paying job and, therefore, a good livelihood is dependent on whether an individual possesses a degree from one of Korea’s top academic institutions. As a result, competition among students for the limited spots in these elite universities is fierce. Parents send their children to hagwons, cram schools, so that their children not only keep up with their peers, but also hopefully surpass them. The pressure imposed on Korean youths is often overwhelming and, as a result, Korea has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world. My parents studied and succeeded in this stressful environment, and in my early childhood, the influence of some of this intense cultural pressure was clear. From an early age, my parents encouraged me to push my limits to develop new skills and flourish academically. Every night, when my mother returned home from university, regardless of how tired she was, she always sat me down to practice arithmetic and English.

Although my parents grew up under the Korean educational system, moving to America changed their perspective on schooling. My parents realized that America holds a vast number of educational opportunities such that every student who desires to go to college, can pursue higher education and obtain a degree. The fact that America eclipses Korea in terms of opportunities, both educational and occupational, are the main reasons that my parents choose not to push me too hard. Upon reflection, I fully agree with their decision. I detest the brutal competitiveness in Korean schools and I am infinitely grateful that, as an American, I do not suffer under such pressure but have access to a great many opportunities.  However, I also admire the great efforts of my parents to challenge me to maximize my potential without being overly demanding. A big element of American life and culture is the concept of the American Dream: with hard work, anything can be achieved by anyone. In this sense, I believe that the values of challenging myself and testing my limits, instilled in me by my parents, are both American and Korean cultural values, which I am proud to possess.

Another significant cultural difference between America and Korea is the manner in which authority figures are revered. Korea, a traditionally Confucian society, requires unquestioning obedience to and deference toward authority figures. I grew up with the expectations that I would bow to my elders, address them with formal grammatical structures and, most importantly, take their advice without hesitation. When I began attending American public schools, I noticed a clear difference in the way in which authority figures interacted with children. The respect that teachers show their students is, for the most part, symmetrical; that is, in American society teachers respect the dignity of the children in the same way the children respect the dignity of the teachers. In Korean society, young people are supposed to respect their elders unconditionally without having that respect reciprocated; that is, in Korean society respect between young and old is asymmetrical. In my American classrooms, students are actively encouraged to ask questions and share their thoughts and opinions. Over the years, I came to understand that western culture manifests the legacy of the Enlightenment and classical liberalism. Western society has adopted cultural norms in which all citizens are considered to be equal. In one instance, I remember a classmate correcting our math teacher, pointing out a minor arithmetic error. In my mind, the teacher should have been embarrassed to be corrected by a student, and should have reprimanded the student. However, I was slightly surprised when the teacher thanked the student for pointing out the error and gave the class a small talk about the importance of correcting her when she is wrong. The fact that the teacher, who holds a position of authority, could accept responsibility for her mistakes was very inspiring to me. Likewise, I realized that accepting the mistake and rewarding the student for calling her out was reinforcing to all the students, encouraging them to be attentive and alert. This motivated me to rethink the expectations for respect that people in positions of authority in Korean culture hold.

Today, when reflecting on the importance of respect for authorities in Korean culture, I am reminded of the Merchant Vessel Sewol tragedy. In 2014, A ferry overloaded with mostly high school students on a field trip capsized, but did not sink, leaving students onboard trapped. The captain ordered students to stay in their cabins, telling them it would be safer. It was not until later that the students realized they were trapped. By this time, it was too late. As a result of the unconditional obedience to authority of the captain on the part of both the crew members and the students, two hundred fifty students drowned. In American culture, questioning an authority figure one knows to be incorrect or unjust is a value which I am proud to have adopted. However, I also believe that there is moderation required in questioning authority. In American classrooms, I have noticed sometimes students push the limits of their freedom too far in challenging the teacher, resulting in disrespectful behavior. In the fifth grade, a few of my classmates questioned the teacher endlessly, seeming to show a complete lack of respect. Sadly, the wayward students were so disruptive that the teacher lost control of the class and little was learned. Such wanton disregard for authority is an aspect in some corners of American culture which I do not admire. If such a complete lack of respect for others is allowed to fester, the very fabric of society will become threadbare. Such disrespect seems devoid of all common sense. To be sure, questioning authority can be beneficial if it contributes to a positive learning environment or results in progress in some other area. This is an aspect of American culture which I deeply admire. Still, I maintain that a modicum of mutual respect must always exist among citizens. Every person deserves to be treated with the dignity befitting a fellow human being. I will always respect my family, my teachers, and those with whom I interact. In embracing American culture while keeping some aspects of my Korean culture, I am undergoing the same process of Americanization as the many generations of immigrants to America who preceded me.  

The United States is a nation which consists almost entirely of immigrants, all of whom came from a foreign land one way or another. In this sense, every inhabitant of this country has at one point undergone the processes of assimilation. Whether we are looking at the early German, Irish, Italian, or Chinese immigrants, all became assimilated by giving up some cultural values, but also by contributing some of their native culture to the melting pot of American society. My experience is no different. In giving up certain aspects of my Korean culture for American values while retaining some of my Korean values, I am undergoing what is a uniquely American experience. I am proud to be a participant in the American experiment and find satisfaction in knowing that in keeping and embodying some of the values of my forefathers, I am contributing to the American social fabric.