My design

I think a large part of what makes me who I am today, is being adopted. I was born in Taiwan and adopted only weeks later but have lived in the United States — specifically Missouri — for basically all of my life. Unlike other adopted children, I have always known that I was adopted. There was never a time when my parents sat me down and explained to me why I don't look like them. I think this is part of the reason whey I have always felt very comfortable and open about my adoption.

Being asian, on the other hand, was something I had to get used to. Until high school, I was one of maybe three asians students in my graduating class. People thought I was different, and I was very shy. I kept to myself a lot and didn't have many friends. I know my parents were worried about me. By eighth grade though, I started making friends. I remember my mother coming back from parent-teacher conferences with a smile on her face because my teacher had told her that I was talking too much in class.

Since then, I have embraced the things that make me unique.

I didn't realize I wanted to be a newspaper designer for a long time.

While growing up, my parents kept my sister and me very busy and involved in all sorts of activities. I started taking dance lessons at age 3 and by the time I was in high school, I was involved in so many activities that I hardly had time for anything else: I was in a ballet company; I played the violin and viola; and I was in a musical theatre group and a choir. In high school, I joined the yearbook staff and the cheerleading squad and also landed roles in several theatre productions.

One day while rushing to a dance rehearsal after a football game, my mom looked at me in the back seat through the rear-view mirror and asked me what I wanted to do after college. My first thought was, "I want to be a ballet dancer, of course ... or go to Broadway ..." It was then when I realized that I couldn't do everything.

After a lot of thinking, I realized I could never be a ballet dancer. I also thought about how hard it is to make a living in the theatre business. I loved all of the activities I was involved in, but I knew I couldn't pursue any of them. My parents could see that I was torn and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.

A few months after that first conversation, my mom asked me if I had ever considered a career in graphics or layout design. She reminded me of how much I loved my graphic design class and being the editor of the yearbook.

At first I thought the idea seemed silly. I thought, "I'm not a designer girl. I'm a performer, I love being on stage." Then that spring, I won a second place, two first places and "Best in Show" award for my yearbook design and realized that I was good at designing. Not long after, I quit the ballet company and the choir I was in and started focusing on design.

When it came time to apply for colleges, I knew I wanted to come to Mizzou. I knew that I didn't want to major in art because drawing wasn't really my thing. I also knew that the journalism school at MU was really good. My parents were reluctant about the career choice I had made and insisted that I also apply to some schools that had a good dance program in case I changed my mind.

I didn't change my mind. Even though part of me will always long to be on stage in a pretty costume, I think my decision to become a designer was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. Getting a design internship at the Virginian-Pilot this summer really helped me realize that I am where I want to be doing what I love to do.