My Story

When I started my first year of college, I felt like I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life right away. Throughout my freshman year, I was frequently asked by family, friends, and people I met on campus: what is your major? This question confused me. It confused me because I did not understand how I could possibly decide what I wanted to study for the next three or four years without having explored the options that were available to me. I am someone who likes to scope out all possibilities before coming to a decision, whether I am reading every item on the Korean takeout menu or weaving in and out of rows of bookshelves at Barnes & Noble to find the perfect read. 

Up until this point, my life and being had been primarily shaped by experiences that were contingent on my family, community, schooling, and geographical location. Coming to college fresh out of high school, I was largely unaware of the different paths I could pursue and the passions I could develop. There were some things that I had grown an affinity for like art, books, movies, and science, but I had a desire to learn outside of my past experiences and try something new.

I dipped my toes in unfamiliar waters despite feeling hesitant, embarrassed, nervous, and all of the other feelings one experiences when treading uncharted territory. It was the only way for me to get at least a glimpse of what was out there. As my interests varied with each new endeavor, there was one constant that gave me the confidence I needed to persevere in learning about myself and the world around me. And that was a network of strong and inspirational women. 

By exploring different opportunities and accumulating new experiences, I was able to meet women who have captivating stories, are involved in fields that interest me, and are open about the challenges they have faced and steps they took/are taking to overcome them. Seeing a strong and highly motivated woman pursue a path that she is passionate about and find her own success has encouraged me to take risks and grasp the idea that figuring out who you are and who you want to be takes time and lots of courage.

It is hard to know what is out there if you have never seen it before. For this reason, I created Walk Your Walk. By sharing the experiences and advice of female leaders, I hope young women can learn about new ideas that might lead to new passions and find the inspiration or motivation to explore the road less traveled!