Two years ago, senior Dahyun and freshman Sihyun Kim came to the U.S. from South Korea to stay for good.
The siblings grew up in Seoul, South Korea, for over a decade before moving here in October 2023 for their father’s work. In 2021, the Kim sisters moved to the U.S. before for the same reason, but they had to move back to Korea due to their father’s work again. The first move to America led the family to stay permanently the second time.
Despite transferring to SHS in her sophomore year, Dahyun has found her place at SHS, serving this year as co-president of the SHS National Honors Society Club as well as treasurer of the DECA Club. She is also a senior class officer. Beyond her leadership involvements, Dahyun participates in the Art Club, plays the vibraphone as part of the front ensemble for the band and plays guitar for fun on the side.
For her part, Sihyun has recently begun to explore computer programming and music. This summer, Sihyun decided to join the marching band and plays in the front ensemble as a vibraphone player with her sister.
In South Korea, where schools emphasize academics over extracurriculars, Dahyun remembers going to afterschool academic classes until 10 p.m. nearly every day. Additionally, Dahyun was required to take a set of predetermined courses without accounting for personal interests.
Though her South Korean friends are across the world, she still keeps in touch via Instagram and meets them whenever she visits Korea. Dahyun also switched from speaking mostly Korean to English.
Now at SHS, Dahyun said she is able to experience and explore her interests more fully. In the U.S., she is able to choose classes she’s interested in, ones like AP Statistics.
Sihyun said she misses some parts of her Korean life such as the walkability of Seoul and the food there.
However, if given the choice, she would stay in the U.S. because of less academic pressure. The rest of her family likes life in America better as well.
“My parents wanted both my sister and I to live in the U.S. later on in life because, here, there are more opportunities,” Dahyun said.
Dahyun said America gave her a better chance of finding her passion because of the emphasis on extracurriculars. This past summer, when Dahyun worked as a nurse assistant, she discovered her passion to help people in the medical field.
“I want to become a nurse anesthetist,” Dahyun said. “I feel like if it wasn’t for me being in the U.S., I would’ve never found this passion.”
