Finding the Silver Lining 

Interview by Cailey Beck and Cheyenne Kim

Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Abigail and I am 17 years old. 

How do you think Koreatown is going to influence you throughout your life?
Koreatown has definitely taught me a lot of lessons about the world and myself. Koreatown has been a large factor in shaping what I want to study in college and what I want to do with my life because I saw a lot of homelessness here.

Growing up and seeing all the [drug misuse] and marginalization that occurs in minority communities instilled a strong sense of justice inside of me. I know that Koreatown has influenced that, so in the future I feel like I’ll do something along those lines for work.

With college in the near future, how does that change your perspective of your hometown?
Koreatown will definitely continue to be the place that I call home, but I am looking forward to moving out of the city, getting a change of scenery, and just finding myself in a new environment. I feel like I’m so familiar with this area that I need to be pushed out of my comfort zone to become the person I really am.

Recently, Koreatown Plaza (KTP) got a new owner, and people are unsure about what that means for KTP and the future of Koreatown in general because it feels like it’s changing so much. With your imminent leave, how does that make you feel?
I didn’t know that KTP had a new owner. That’s interesting. Koreatown will continue to evolve and change as it has been doing rapidly these past few years. Future K-Town students will still play pool at the billiards hall, visit the karaoke rooms, and eat Korean food somewhere. I’m not sure where that will be [in the future], but the essence of it will be the same.

I was talking to a pastor whom I had interviewed about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and he was talking about how everyone in Koreatown used to go out late at night, smoke, play pool, and that kind of thing. It sounded so similar to some of the individuals I know. Koreatown has a very specific character that is individual to our town. No matter how many changes we face, I feel like that will remain the same.

What kind of experiences are you hoping for?
I’m looking forward to becoming an adult and just really embracing the independence and self-sufficiency that come with going to college. It’ll be a learning experience, and I want to be able to study the things that I want to study and be with the individuals whom I want to be with. I’ll have more choices when it comes to the things that I need to do or the things that I want to do.

Would you ever consider coming back to Koreatown?
Probably as a last resort. I feel like if I do go out of state, I’ll just want to stay in that area. Who knows what’s going to happen, but I don’t have plans to come back to Koreatown specifically. Maybe to visit my parents, if they’re still living here.

What was it like doing your college applications during quarantine?
It was so much easier. If things had been normal, as seniors, we would have had to juggle SATs, subject tests, financial aid, supplementals, college applications, and our GPAs. And then there are sports and extracurriculars on top of that. Quarantine has definitely made it easier to finish my college applications and write all of my essays.

Has this COVID-19 pandemic changed you?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed me in a lot of ways. Throughout this pandemic, I’ve had a lot of self-growth and self-reflection. I’ve learned how to manage my time more. Especially now that school is online, I have to juggle extracurriculars and classes and all that kind of stuff on my own. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught me to be more responsible and independent. It allowed me to learn more about myself. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was super negative. I hated that the world changed instantly, and I hated not being able to go out as much as I could. I hated having to stay home. I feel that through the negativity I've experienced, I’ve learned to embrace what life has thrown at me, and I accept it. Whatever happens, happens, and you’ve got to make the most of it.

I could have been sitting around complaining and not really trying to get anything from this experience, but instead, I learned more about myself. I found new hobbies. I grew more accustomed to the turbulence of life. Nothing’s ever going to be steady, so you kind of always have to be ready to suck it up, no matter what comes at you. There’s always going to be an opportunity for growth if you let it be. The COVID-19 pandemic, though it was difficult, helped me as an individual. 

What’s different in how you feel now versus the beginning of quarantine?
I remember feeling so sick of being at home and hating the feeling of being trapped. I feel like I’ve learned to appreciate the things I have and to make the most out of what I’ve been given. Sure, COVID took away our homecoming [dance] and probably our graduation and prom, and we’ve probably missed out on the senior year experience, but COVID didn’t just take things from us. We’ve gained so much more, and it just depends on whether you recognize it or not. I guess I’ve realized finding the silver lining in everything is really important.

Is there something that you would give anything to have the opportunity to do?
I really want to go to the movie theater and watch a movie. I want to stand in line, buy a Slurpee and KitKats, and go into the theater with a bunch of people around us with no masks. I miss that feeling so much. Amusement parks as well. Once COVID gets a lot better, I want to go to Six Flags or Disneyland. I didn’t take advantage of the things we could do pre-COVID enough.

Do you have any advice for others on time management?
Keep a planner. I have a random notebook and write down everything I have to do at the time and the date it’s going to happen. Also, your phone will take up a lot of your time, even if you don’t expect it. Sometimes I’m on Instagram, where I talk for hours, and my entire day passes, you know? I tried uninstalling apps that distract me the most when I have something important to do, so that’s another piece of advice.

What kind of impact do you think COVID will have on later generations?
More people will start being more mindful of germs. At school, I didn’t even wash my hands before eating lunch, or I’d sleep on the bus or on the tables at school with my head down. I’d grab a hand railing on the bus and not wash my hands. I feel like everything was so unsafe. Like with birthday cakes, when we blew on it, the spit would get everywhere. When people sneezed and didn’t cover their mouths. It’s just gross.

COVID has shown us how unsanitary we can be. Even if you don’t have COVID, what if you have the flu or strep throat and unknowingly spread it? I hope people continue to wear masks, even when COVID is gone, because it’s good protection for yourself and individuals around you.