This post was written by communications intern, Emely Paulino.
“But by understanding you, I was able to confront your flaws as well. No longer could I just pass over that you are sometimes utterly selfish. You believe that only your opinion matters, as if your actions hold no consequences. And it’s hard for you to understand why people make sacrifices. Yet the most beautiful thing about you is your ability to realize and to struggle with your flaws. I see you thrive not because of your difficulties, but because you’re truly engaging in your decisions, debating what is right or wrong.” –Karla Kim, mentee
On April 25th, second-year mentee Karla Kim performed her piece “Dear Cristina Yang: Farewell to My Person” at our annual CHAPTERS Reading. Her moving piece revealed her personal connection to actress Sandra Oh, who plays a doctor on the popular television drama Grey’s Anatomy.
“What began as simply attachment bridged by the same skin tone morphed into genuine respect and reasons why you were my character. I looked past your ethnicity. The more I loved your character, the more I connected to you and found that you were slowly undermining these stereotypes. I learned you’re far from a robot. You can let yourself break, and you fear failure and vulnerability. You desire to be held, to be accepted unconditionally.”
Soon after her outstanding performance, Karla’s piece was published as an Op-Ed on the Huffington Post. Her witty and honest identification with the Korean-Canadian actress tackles the importance of strong female role models in the media. She describes her frustration with previous Korean dramas and their conventional storyline. Sandra Oh opened Kim’s eyes to a strong, multifaceted, limitless female character.
“I’m graduating high school this year, just as you’re graduating Seattle Grace Hospital. I still can’t imagine myself doing something different than what I’ve been doing for four years. And I’m not sure you can imagine Grey’s without you either.”
Karla Kim is graduating high school and will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.
- Check out Karla’s full piece on the Huffington Post
- Watch her amazing CHAPTERS performance: