My career is founded on two intrinsic principles - my love for South Korea, and my love for music. These have ebbed and flowed in precedence over the years, but their existence is constant. At the University of Southern California where I studied Art History and Music Industry, my focus was on acquiring the knowledge I needed to support my career in the music industry. I took courses such as The Business and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry I&II, Music for Film and Television, and Music Technology to do so. I was also a volunteer with the KXSC Radio Station where I helped to produce scheduled programming and organize live events such as the KXSC Festival. I also worked at the Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies as an archival assistant doing mostly administrative and curatorial work. It was during this time that I also met my South Korean roommate, Heejin, whose presence sparked the interest in her home country, where I would eventually live.  

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I continued to develop the skills from my courses at the University of Edinburgh in a study abroad program as an extension of my degree at USC. I had yearned to see more of the world, and it was an experience that primed me to have the courage to explore the world on my own. Whilst in Edinburgh, I completed my course in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to be able to teach English abroad - namely in South Korea. 

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I found my belonging in South Korea. I found home. I was first in a position at RISE Gangseo, an English academy in the western part of Seoul. There, I learned what it meant to be a leader. I created all of my curriculum, planned lessons, and solved problems from papercuts to not enough buses for a field trip. I learned how to advocate for myself and my students, and fostered meaningful relationships with my students, coworkers, and parents alike. Being a mediator between students taught me how to resolve conflict effectively and empathetically, and I was able to delegate when things were no longer my responsibility. 

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I moved on from RISE, and returned to California to work as a studio Intern at Ancient Wave Studios. At the studio, I worked alongside the executive and creative branches to develop new music strategies and projects. I also worked to build the brand by creating new marketing campaigns and materials such as album covers, logos, website design, and social media presence. I created an innovative organization system, and set up the studio to reflect the system. I was also able to shadow the engineers at the studio, who taught me the processes and techniques of analogue recording and how to convert it to a Digital Audio Workspace to be able to assist in recording sessions.  

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When my internship ended, I returned to Seoul to work at Twin.kle English Academy - a premier English academy in Daechi-dong in the heart of Gangnam-gu. Much like RISE, I learned how to be an even more effective leader, rising quickly to become one of the most requested instructors. I led by example in my words, my actions, and my behavior. My classroom was a classroom of open discussion and critical thinking as well as new, innovative thought. 

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I left Twin.kle listening to the call of music in my heart. I enrolled in two courses at the Record Factory in Seoul - Kpop Mixing and Mastering, and Music Production. The first was a master class on the mixing and mastering techniques specific to the Kpop genre taught by guest instructors such as Park Hyuk and Kim HanGoo of SoundPool Studios, and Kwon Namwoo of 821 Sound. Music Production was an intensive certificate course taught by Joe Layne in partnership with Ableton. Although the courses were fairly short-term, the experience was one of the most meaningful things I have done. The bond created between the individuals in the course felt like a family - a convergence of common interest and inspiration. There’s nothing quite like being part of something bigger than yourself in a space of limitless potential. I learned so many new and interesting things about musical techniques and the music industry in general; but most of all, I acquired and nurtured genuine connection with my colleagues. 

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At the end of the course, I returned yet again to California, planning to go back to Korea once I obtained my visa sponsorship again. While in California, I joined the A&R team at Manic Kat Records, a punk-rock record label based in New York. We used to joke that the A&R team was wearing all the hats for the label - that we were the glue that held together the other pieces of the business. The main tasks I was responsible for were researching and collecting data on new talent, creating systems of organization for the A&R team, facilitating acquisition meetings with prospective artists and guiding them through the process of signing our contract, and managing the activity and marketing of the bands I represented, as well as the label as a whole. I also was tasked with communicating the business model of the label to partners and collaborators, developing and implementing commercial business opportunities to increase market shares, and eventually becoming the main point of contact for my team. I facilitated the A&R segment of the weekly label-wide meetings, and kept detailed minutes for later reference for my team. 

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One of my favorite projects working at Manic Kat was the 5-year Anniversary Festival. It was a two-day concert that featured all of our represented artists, including Pyrite Sidewalk, Cult Classic, Neverlyn, For the Record, and more. I was able to see this project through its idealization and planning to its materialization where I was able to connect and build rapport with the members of our bands that I did not directly represent.  

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While I was working at Manic Kat, and because it was remote, I had also started a position at Native Wren, a local boutique owned by a close friend. Shortly after joining the team, I was given the position of manager, to take on some of the responsibilities of the owner. As a manager, it was my role to ensure accomplishment of business objectives by managing and maintaining staff, recruiting and training staff in company etiquette and procedures, and achieving results by communicating job expectations. I also took on creating organization systems to be followed, and tracking payroll.  

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Covid-19 created a large pause, and I returned to my position at Native Wren once regulations were lifted. There, I was introduced to the superintendent of my local school districts, who informed me of the great need for substitute teachers. I recognized that I could fulfill that need, and joined the superintendent as a substitute teacher. Over the past couple of months, I have satisfied both short and long-term teaching assignments in all subject areas, effectively teaching students of varied academic levels and age groups, as well as diverse cultural backgrounds. I am recognized for my dedication, reliability, organization, and effectiveness as one of the district’s most sought-after substitutes. This summer, I was awarded a Scholar Educator Award from the superintendent in recognition of my excellence in teaching.