After three dreadful, sweaty, exhausting hours had passed, I was more than sure that I did not belong here. I told my dad in the smallest voice ever, “Dad..I told you I couldn’t do this. Golf is for taller stronger girls. Everyone here is two times my weight and my height..” My dad just gave me a sad smile, and said, “Let’s go now, you have to go home, shower, and get ready for your ballet audition.” As I dragged the golf bag to the car, I couldn’t help but think why this whole situation seemed so forceful and unfair. 2:00p.m., my dad and I arrived at the Rose Theater for the Asian American Young Ballerina Corporation Audition. It was an audition to join the corporation, and become part of a group that was well known to many Koreans. The auditions were going to start any minute and I was once again dreading the moment. Before walking into the building, I looked at my reflection on the building’s outside wall. I couldn’t even recognize who I was under all the makeup and eyeliner that was already making my eyes watery and red. I turned to my dad as firmly said, “Dad, I’m not going to go in. I think this is enough.” Surprisingly, as though he had read my mind from the beginning of the day, my dad did not say much, and just held my hand as we walked back to the car. He had a separate talk with my mom as I was taking the second longest shower in my life. My mom and dad, to this day, never directly asked me what had happened that led me to just let go of everything I had learned in my life. However, when asked about the situation, my parents always say, we were just very selfish parents and the only best gift to our daughter was letting her do what she wants to do.
After three dreadful, sweaty, exhausting hours had passed, I was more than sure that I did not belong here. I told my dad in the smallest voice ever, “Dad..I told you I couldn’t do this. Golf is for taller stronger girls. Everyone here is two times my weight and my height..” My dad just gave me a sad smile, and said, “Let’s go now, you have to go home, shower, and get ready for your ballet audition.” As I dragged the golf bag to the car, I couldn’t help but think why this whole situation seemed so forceful and unfair. 2:00p.m., my dad and I arrived at the Rose Theater for the Asian American Young Ballerina Corporation Audition. It was an audition to join the corporation, and become part of a group that was well known to many Koreans. The auditions were going to start any minute and I was once again dreading the moment. Before walking into the building, I looked at my reflection on the building’s outside wall. I couldn’t even recognize who I was under all the makeup and eyeliner that was already making my eyes watery and red. I turned to my dad as firmly said, “Dad, I’m not going to go in. I think this is enough.” Surprisingly, as though he had read my mind from the beginning of the day, my dad did not say much, and just held my hand as we walked back to the car. He had a separate talk with my mom as I was taking the second longest shower in my life. My mom and dad, to this day, never directly asked me what had happened that led me to just let go of everything I had learned in my life. However, when asked about the situation, my parents always say, we were just very selfish parents and the only best gift to our daughter was letting her do what she wants to do.