nathanlee05

[nathanlee05]

Blooming

Nathan Lee

Feb 18, 2025

At first, writing felt like a chore—an obstacle I was forced to overcome rather than a skill to embrace. But over time, it became a powerful tool for self-expression, growth, and understanding, shaping me into the person I am today.

My earliest memories of writing date back to the second grade. From tracing letters to forming simple sentences, I remember struggling while my peers completed assignments with ease. It took me twice the effort just to keep up, and frustration often consumed me.

For a long time, I blamed my difficulties with English on my family. Both my parents are first-generation immigrants from Korea—my father came to the U.S. for his graduate degree in theology, and my mother pursued her college education. They met at the University of Kentucky and built a life together, raising me in a household where Korean was the primary language. So when I started school in a small, predominantly white rural town, it was a culture shock. I was immediately ostracized—not only for how I looked but also for how I spoke and struggled with English.

School became something I despised, and writing was even worse. Throughout elementary and middle school, I was pulled out of class for extra English and writing lessons while my peers advanced in subjects I longed to study. However, over the years, my resentment toward English and writing gradually transformed.

Eventually, I realized that blaming my family for my struggles was both foolish and selfish. The person I once held responsible for my challenges—my father—became my greatest inspiration. After completing his two years of mandatory military service in Korea, he flew to the U.S. with the dream of earning an American visa and becoming a missionary in China. Though his goals shifted over time, his determination never wavered. Despite English being even more challenging for him than for me, he devoted himself to preparing sermons every Sunday, moving audiences with his words. Now, he is recognized internationally and invited to speak in different countries. Witnessing his perseverance made me understand that my writing difficulties weren’t rooted in my upbringing or background but rather in my lack of determination and passion.

That passion finally surfaced during my freshman year of high school when I applied for the student senate. Running for office required me to deliver speeches to my grade, and for the first time, writing felt natural—words flowed smoothly because I was deeply invested in what I had to say. When I won the election, I realized that writing could be enjoyable. The following year, I ran again, refining my speechwriting skills and securing the position once more. By my junior and senior years, I was delivering speeches to the entire school as vice president and president. My love for writing continued to grow, culminating in my senior year when I was elected to speak in front of 1,500 youth students at a statewide Youth in Government event.

This image is crucial to my narrative for this was one of my biggest achievements in my writing career. With many struggles and obstacles that I have gone through with writing and english, this shows the audience of where I am today, and what kind of impact my father had on me, inspiring me to move out of my comfort zone and go out and achieve something that I am passionate about.

Photo from Youth In Government, I am in the center, talking to over 1500 students.

Taken by my younger brother, Caleb Lee

Looking back, I am incredibly proud of how far I have come. The eight-year-old me would have never imagined that writing—once my greatest struggle—would become my greatest tool for self-expression. Through writing, I have learned that passion and perseverance transcend language barriers and cultural differences. More importantly, I now recognize that my father’s struggles and determination paved the way for my own success, teaching me that anything is possible with hard work and resilience.

[nathanlee05]

This picture is fundamental to me because it shows one of my greatest achievements in English and writing. In this photo, I am speaking in front of 1500 students at a Youth in Government convention. When it came to writing, at first it felt like a chore, an obstacle I was forced to overcome rather than a skill to embrace, but over time, it became a powerful tool for self-expression, growth, and understanding, shaping me into the person I am today. I am very thankful for my parents especially my father for being a role model in my writing and English. My dad being a first-generation immigrant, he struggled with learning and speaking English, but every Sunday he perseveres in creating an English sermon for his work. He is proud of what he does, even when it's uncomfortable for him. It is because of his hard work that drives me to face challenges head-on and trust in myself. I have realized that my identity isn't alwasy what I was given or born with, but instead what I make of it.