ignite 'n inspire

What is youth? We have been taught that "our youth" is the brightest and most important point in our lives...as we explore career pathways, find love and grow with our friends. Park Bo Gum and Park So Dam's drama is a cinematic illustration of youth in the entertainment and modelling industry. As Ahn Jeong-ha aspires to be an independent make-up artist and Sa Hye-jun hopes to make his mark in the acting world, the young adults cross paths and learn to survive in this stormy and turbulent society. The drama is a slice-of-life drama that explores the troubles of being raised in an Asian household and living with the pressure to find and define success. Although it was shot in the conservative country of South Korea, I believe it is a relatable drama for young adults all around the world. Throughout the drama, viewers are empathizing and rooting for the two protagonists who fight to achieve their dreams and love without despair. Here are my favourite things about this drama:

       As an Asian-Canadian, I sincerely thank the producers, actors and writers of "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" for creating a drama that sheds light on mental illnesses and childhood trauma. While illustrating a beautiful love story, they have opened the door for viewers to discuss and reflect on our mental health and emotional burdens. By breaking the stigma around mental health issues, "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" is a healing television series that explores the life of an eccentric fairytale author (Moon-young) and psychiatric hospital nurse (Gang-tae). As we learn about their childhood hardships, viewers embark on a journey where both characters learn to unleash their shackles and live for themselves. We also meet Sang-tae, Gang-tae's autistic brother who struggles with being independent and post-traumatic stress. At the psychiatric hospital, viewers are also introduced to a group of patients who are battling their own demons- from alcoholism, depressi

Going in the fourth month of quarantine, I have been reflecting a lot about elementary school ME...the impulsive, passionate, loud teenager. I realized that I have never written a letter to my younger self. So here it is...     Baby girl, you are currently in grade 5 walking into your new elementary school for the first time. There are butterflies in your stomach and frogs in your throat as you walk up the stairs to Room 201. Although this life transition seems daunting, know that this new school experience is going to change your life. Here are some pieces of advice for you because I know you will need it: 1) Don't dwell on the concept of popularity. Popularity is no different from a fleeting breeze. It is important for you to find companions who share the same values, goals and ambitions. The quantity of Facebook friends only offer a temporary amount of satisfaction. Girl, know that you are going to meet people that will become your sisters  for life, women who will inspire you t

        When someone first enters into the dark hole of Korean dramas, they are often introduced to an abyss of phrases and expressions. Personally, OST was one of the first acronyms that I googled. OST is the abbreviation for "original sound track," a single or album of songs created for a particular drama. Just like Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese dramas, these songs are intricately interwoven into the drama. The best OSTs are often associated with certain characters, romantic storylines and moods. What's the marker of a phenomenal soundtrack? To me...it must work hand in hand with the television show. Specifically, the mentioning of a drama should trigger a song to start playing in your head. Similarly, listening to an OST should prompt an individual to visualize significant scenes and dialogue.          In my opinion, I believe these original soundtracks have been an integral part of the Hallyu drama wave. Perhaps, these songs are the unsung heroes. Just as music is

Here is my speech that I prepared for my grandma's celebration of life. As I was preparing, lyrics from the musical Wicked's "For Good" played in my head. "So much of me, is made of what I learned from you, You'll be with me, Like a handprint on my heart." That's how much my grandma means to me. She is my role model and prayer warrior. She has certainly inspired and changed me for good .  My grandma is a woman with a strong voice, beautiful smile and a huge heart. To me, she is also a remarkable example of what it means to live with a heart of gratitude. Every single time I visited her at her nursing home, she would take every opportunity to shower the staff with compliments, thanking them for their service and care. Even when she was sick and weak at the hospital last year, she would make it an effort to smile and thank every nurse who gave her medicine, measured her blood pressure and delivered a meal. Aside from having the ability to make people f

        As a long-time asian drama viewer, my friends, family members and I always critique television shows for depicting unrealistic lifestyles and showcasing illogical love stories. Hospital Playlist is a clear exception, as it illustrates the life of five long-time friends who meet in medical school. They eventually wind up working as surgeons in Yulje Hospital. As they deal with the emotional roller coaster that comes with being a doctor, Professor Song-hwa, Ik-Joon, Jun-wan, Seok-Hyung and Jeong-Won also tackle normal life as a 40 year old. Just like ordinary humans, we often forget that doctors are also succumb to sickness, familial problems and career changes. The "slice of life" drama does not shy away from illustrating the two-fold life of a doctor- both as society's superheroes and ordinary individuals. Amidst their fast-paced work environment, viewers get a peek into doctors' lives, as they work tirelessly to maintain a sense of humanity in a highly stress

What's up? I'm back again with the second half of my music selection. I hope this list inspires you to explore different languages and genres of music. Over the years, I have dabbled into many genres and have found that music is a universal language. It is a language that can somehow convey emotions and share a story. DAY 16- A song that's a classic favourite-  Halo from Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnVUHWCynig The production and orchestration to Halo is absolutely stunning. I remember watching Beyonce sing THIS song during the Super Bowl halftime show and my jaw dropped. It showcases Beyonce's versatility, as a masterful ballad singer. DAY 17- A song you'd sing a duet with someone on karaoke-  Right Here Right Now from High School Musical 3: The Senior Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3NI0uUl3lo   You are reading a blog written by HSM fan! Right Here Right Now is my favourite Troy and Gabriella duet that takes me ba

As a commuter student, my music playlists have been a major part of my life. The lists have accompanied me during the rainy spring days, cool fall weather and the freezing months of winter. "K", "M", "^", "C" includes songs that have lifted my mood when I could not bear the stress of university and allowed me to reminisce about my younger days. In different languages, the soundtracks have been playing in the background through my good and bad days. Using the 30-day Song Challenge, I hope to share with you some of my favourite tunes. DAY 1- A song you like with a colour in the title: Red from Taylor Swift's Red https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlot0i3Zykw Since my grade 7 days, I have always been a Swiftie. Yes, my sister and I would use our hair combs as microphones and sing her songs in our bedroom. Aside from that hint of nostalgia, Taylor's songs are poetic and always so intricately written. Since her second album Fearless, she h