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How Work Changed My Identity: Five Useful Tips to Keep Work-Life Balance
Dear younger me:
I write this with great love. You have learned so much. Some parts have made you the strong woman that you are today. I know that being a biracial Korean/German female has caused much confusion throughout your life, especially when it comes to work, finding work, and keeping work. That phrase, “Can you say work ethic” after sharing your ethnic makeup, is valid, but it didn’t suit you for the long haul. It taught you how to be strong and survive in a culture of systemic racism, but it does not identify you. You know that now. I’m so proud of you.
You wanted to please your parents, so you abided by the rule of doing homework and chores, but that DECA (Distributive Education) program you enrolled in was not necessarily wise. You outdid yourself. I’m not sure your parents realized the toll you were putting upon yourself. That senior year when you went to school until noon, ran home to get dinner ready, and headed to work. Oof. I’m also thankful that you have learned since then. You lived into the work ethic your parents modeled out of respect. I’m proud of you for showing up.
Dad meant well when he said, “You have two strikes against you. You’re a minority, and you’re female, which means you will have to work twice as hard.” You were already a competitor…
