Although my blood-grandmother Grandma Kim Seo-Deuk and I are severed by distances afar, she still inspires me in ways that are insurmountable. My grandma embodies a defining presence, strong and warm, and this shared feeling between me and her has urged me to move forward even when obstacles obstruck. 

It can certainly be said that my actions are derived from the passions I hold to make my family proud, to help others just as my grandma has done. My grandmother passes on her love to me like a torch from a strong fire to a torch whose light is still meager and hungry for more.

My parents are first-generation immigrants who you could say had the typical yet demanding “American Dream.” As they stumbled in a foreign society, they were stuck in an environment that felt unfamiliar to them. To them, the immigration process felt like scrapes of hope engulfed by darkness. Still, my mother and father worked adamantly, driving through whatever thick fog stood in their way. 

One day, a rosy-cheeked woman entered the arid and stuffy dry-cleaners. A new chapter began as the doorbell chimed sweetly of the person who I would eventually admire the most: Grandma Pamela. 

Over the years, my mother had grown a great respect for Grandma Pamela, even working alongside her at her job for some time. Together, they built a bond that was unbreakable. I believe the charisma of Grandma Pamela had spurred my mother to work harder and to drive through obstacles. My mother carried those inspirations over to me. Today, I feel a drive to create change in other lives just as Grandma Pamela has done for my mother. 

To me, Grandma Pamela is the definition of gift-giver. Every holiday, birthday and special event would be followed by a huge bag filled with numerous gifts. Something my parents could barely accomplish, my grandma religiously handed gifts of love and grace. From indulgent chocolate cakes to dainty porcelain to cards filled with so much love, these gifts weren’t just to serve a practical purpose. These gifts were presents of joy, a reminder that we were all bonded with something great. Gifts from a warm-hearted soul that remind us that yes, there can be kindness present in the small things. 

I will never forget the words spoken to me by my Grandma Pamela, “You are a young girl that will make big accomplishments… we are always proud of our American-granddaughter.” 

Words like that can’t help but make an incredible, tangible difference in my life. These words are not just words of affirmation, they are also shards of hope, pieces of encouragement, drops of love. They push me to go beyond my limits. Without their presence, I would not have found the passion to chase my dreams with such drive.