Ulices Renoj
Ulices is a senior at USC Hybrid High College Prep. He joined KORYO to gain confidence around a group of people working to achieve the same thing and to gain skills to help others. He is excited to share the information he learned with as many people as possible. His favorite hobbies are playing soccer, listening to music, and working out.
No Matter How Small
Interview by Johana Martinez
What is your name, and how old are you?
My name is Ulices. I’m 17.
What special object did you choose to bring for our interview, and can you tell me about it?
My special object isn’t an object, but a picture of my dog. My dog’s name is Gus, and in this photo, he is about 2 or 3 years old. He is a Labrador. When I first saw him, I liked that he looked so friendly and energetic, which was the type of dog I wanted. Once I saw him, and he saw me, we laid eyes on each other, and he just jumped with the lead and ran straight toward me. When we’re at home, if he sees someone he doesn’t recognize from our household, he literally stands in front of us as if he is guarding us to make sure we have a safe distance from the stranger.
Where’s your hometown?
My hometown is Los Angeles.
What are your thoughts on Koreatown?
I don’t really have any affiliations with Koreatown. From what I’ve seen, it seems like a cool place, and I hope to spend time there.
Do you have any specific memories surrounding Koreatown?
It’s probably just one of my best friends telling me how beautiful the place is, and from the looks of it, it seems really beautiful. Yeah, I hope to experience the same thing she has.
Do you have a favorite place in Los Angeles?
My favorite [places] in Los Angeles are [the parks]. It may seem kind of basic, but I like going to the park, especially with my dog, because he likes to run around and be playful. Also, you get to see and enjoy people coming together in one place and seeing how they act. If there are other dogs that my dog can play with, it’s very fun. I get to meet new people there as well.
Besides my dog, I love to bring one of my favorite cousins. She also has a dog, a shepherd, and the shepherd and my dog are best friends, so I always like to go with her. I bring my dog, and we basically have fun together. I like to see our dogs being playful with each other. My cousin’s dog is named Lily. She is currently around 3 or 4 years old.
Is there anything you want to change in L.A. or Koreatown?
In L.A., I would like to change how some people treat the place. I’ve seen so much junk or trash, especially in the parks I go to. It’s really a mess, and it doesn’t look nice. The type of person I like to be is very organized and clean. When I see how people treat these places that are meant to be special and beautiful, it’s just not right. Something I would change is to make sure everyone takes care of the parks to keep them beautiful for everyone to experience.
Why did you want to join KORYO?
That’s a good question. From KORYO, I learned about opioids and stimulants, and before I joined, I didn’t know what they were or how people used them. I wanted to learn about a new topic, but I also wanted to know how I could help with these types of things. I am very helpful and caring, so I love to take the opportunity to help my community in any way, no matter how small or big. I would love to help in any way.
Before joining KORYO, did you have any idea how opioids or stimulants affected Koreatown and Los Angeles, or what they were in general?
I literally had no idea what they were before, so hearing about these things was very new to me. I had no idea what this program would be about, so it was very interesting to learn something new.
What have you learned so far from KORYO?
What I’ve learned so far is that, of course, opioids and stimulants can be very dangerous, especially when they are misused. I’ve heard and seen that people around the world, especially teenagers and young adults, have misused and been addicted to these [types of drugs]. Another thing I’ve learned is that people who have been addicted to these things for a very long time can rarely escape them. It’s helpful to know that because I have an opportunity to help.
I’ve learned that using opioids and stimulants gives you dopamine, which is a pleasing feeling. People get easily addicted since it’s a good feeling, and it makes them want more, which somehow makes their brain malfunction [as they give in] to that mentality of wanting more and more. Things get harder for them when they have that type of mind, because if you want more and more, you’re basically obsessed now. It’s hard to escape, so I can see why people are struggling with this.
Do you know any peers who are abusing opioids or stimulants?
The good news is that I don’t, which is a relief because I would not like to see someone I am related to go through that.
What are the impacts that these stimulants and opioids have had on your community, schools in general, and the environment as a whole?
From what I’m seeing, it makes people more aware and cautious. It’s like a warning sign. Students or even teachers warn people of how easily someone can become addicted, so everyone is cautious about these things and sees what they could do to you.
If you had the opportunity, would you recommend KORYO to a community of yours or your school?
Definitely. These types of things are interesting. As I said before, I didn’t know anything at all, like any of the information I learned from KORYO. So maybe someone else in my community or school doesn’t know anything about this stuff either. It’s good that this program exists to spread this type of information everywhere, especially in school facilities, where students are more likely to go through this.
How would you [raise awareness] about opioids and stimulants?
I would create a team by my side to help with events like after-school programs or something to have students learn, or even recommend they join our program. That’s the way I would like to spread awareness.
What do you think of KORYO so far?
KORYO is great so far. It’s an interesting program. I’ve met new people, and it has given me more confidence than I’ve ever had before. I also joined this program because of a lack of confidence, not having a voice, or [knowing] how to speak to others or strangers. This program has helped me a lot by meeting new people while learning new information that I’ve never heard of.
What was some of the information that you had never heard? Was it shocking or upsetting?
It was kind of both. It was shocking because I never knew anything about it. I never knew this even existed. And it was upsetting because seeing how people are struggling with opioids and stimulants is just sad to see.
What do you think about KORYO’s time frame? Is it justifiable? Should it be shorter or longer?
The time span is pretty great. It gives us enough time to get things ready and to learn. I see no problem with it. I can get things done during the program meetings, and overall, it’s pretty good.
What are your current hobbies or interests?
I like to play video games and work out. I love to stay in shape and be healthy while playing my favorite sport, soccer.
When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I always loved watching soccer games on TV or live streams with my dad. I especially liked seeing the players and the fans happy and hyped up after each goal. It seemed fun, and I imagined myself in there, experiencing it. After that, I got into soccer, and to this day, I still love the sport.
Do you like entertainment outside of school?
Actually, yeah. For me, doing things outside is much more relaxing and less stressful than academics because I’m not academic. I’m a very athletic person. I like movement. I prefer being an athletic type of person instead of a studying type of person.
If someone asked you about KORYO, how would you describe it?
KORYO is a very friendly program. [The staff] treats you kindly. There’s nothing to be afraid of, especially when speaking up, because you’ll always have the opportunity [to do so]. No matter what, they always give you support, especially after hours. The staff will always be there for you if you need any support or extra help, and it’s great to have them. It’d be great [for others] to experience that.
Do you think KORYO could help you with other things as well?
One hundred percent, definitely. KORYO will give you opportunities. [Staff members] will notify you if there are any events that you might like to participate in. It’s a great opportunity, especially when you have to do community hours; even just going to meetings already counts for community hours. There is nothing too stressful. It’s easy, simple, and easy to go with.
When we finish KORYO, can you take all the information we’ve learned and apply it to the real world?
I definitely want to help others and let them know that this type of information isn’t well-known. Many people don’t know about [the opioid and stimulant crisis], so in the real world, it’s important to let others know and even to make someone interested in joining the program. It can be a helpful tool for others.
If someone offered you the opportunity to join again, would you take it?
Definitely! As of right now, I enjoy it. I’ve learned so much. I want to see the program’s new events or updates.
If you had the opportunity to change anything in KORYO, what would you do to help it improve?
Something I would change to improve KORYO is to have more activities for everyone to collaborate on and participate in so that no one feels left out and everyone feels comfortable with each other.