I was rather surprised that we had another bi-weekly journal due as I submitted my first journal a week ago. Because of this, I can only write about the things that I’ve learned over the past week. Do understand that the content of this journal may be limited as only a week has passed.
This week was filled with unfortunate and tragic news. Kobe Bryant, the iconic and legendary basketball player, was tragically killed along with his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and others due to a helicopter crash. In order to explain the relevance of this news to Korean culture, I must first talk about Kobe Bryant’s impact on the Korean community in Los Angeles. To me and my friends, Kobe Bryant was more than a basketball player; he was a role-model, an example that people of all ages could follow. He was dedicated to his craft, constantly pushing himself to the limit. He would never be content with winning championships or scoring some of the highest number of points in a single game. He was obsessed with inspiring a generation so that the legacy, teachings, and fruits of his hard work would carry on into the future. Like many Korean kids in Los Angeles, I grew up in a community with few opportunities. Every opportunity that presented itself for a higher education, rigorous extracurricular activities, and a better life was competitively fought for in the Korean community. As my Korean friends and I would learn to socialize with one another at school through basketball, we came to idolize Kobe Bryant for his hard work and determination. It was sheer coincidence, but a blessing that Kobe’s work ethic was so similar to that of Korean culture. As we grew older, my Korean peers and I would adopt the mantra called “Mamba Mentality”, which describes Kobe’s insatiable desire to chase his dreams and enjoy the process of perfecting his craft in basketball. My friends and I would practice this mantra in every aspect of our lives especially in academics. Because of that mentality, I was able to attend the University of Richmond and attend Korean class with some of my peers.
I also read about the countless number of deaths due to the coronavirus. The article that I read was very challenging as it was using terms to describe the nature and trajectory of the virus. I’m particularly interested in this topic because I was planning on traveling throughout Asia for a month with my best friend. Unfortunately, my best friend and I had to postpone the planning of our trip because the coronavirus has spread to countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. I want to continue reading Korean articles like this because it challenges me to study a subcategory of vocabulary. In the past, I’ve studied terms that relate to the Korean government and politics. Now, I am interested in learning about terms that define medical terminologies and biological processes in the human body.
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