Social Norms

As a child of Korean immigrants, I was raised with the belief that anything deviating from social norms or not worthy of boasting should be kept hidden. This cultural mindset of maintaining appearances and avoiding perceived shame shaped my early worldview. However, my family’s tightly held beliefs were challenged when my twin brother Jonathan was diagnosed with autism. This put our parents in a conflicting situation – they could boast about Jonathan’s academic skills, yet struggled to explain his social challenges and unique behaviors. They demanded that I keep the truth a secret.

As Johnathan tried to make friends at school, he became a target for mockery and imitation. One day in fifth grade, I finally reached my breaking point. Frustrated with how my classmates were treating my brother, I confronted them, hurling profanity I had overheard from my uncle. I did not fully understand what I was saying, but I knew I wanted the bullying to stop. My outburst resulted in disciplinary action for using swear words, and I realized I had scared both my classmates and my brother in the process. That day, I learned that effective support required more than just empathy and fury on behalf of someone. Instead of confrontation, I approached our teacher with a constructive solution: reading books that celebrated our differences. This led to classroom discussions on empathy and inclusion, gradually changing how my classmates treated my brother and others.

Thanks to my experiences with Jonathan, I have developed a deep empathy for individuals with disabilities and their loved ones, seeing them not through a lens of pity or shame, but as whole people deserving respect and equal treatment. Although Jonathan has come far, even graduating from college, I recognize that his success was partly due to the resources and support that many families lack. This prompts me to reflect on the impact of unequal access to such resources. This contrast between obstacles and opportunities has deepened my understanding of how various factors influence individual success, profoundly shaping my view of the legal system and my aspiration to use it as a tool for fostering equality and social progress. Specifically, it has highlighted the need to address both cultural barriers and resource inequalities within marginalized communities through legal means. Through Jonathan's story, I have learned the power of education and empathy in overcoming prejudice, driving my ambition to use legal expertise as a tool for systemic change and greater social understanding.