In 2003, I graduated from George Walton High School. Yet, I did not feel the need of going to university just yet. My oldest brother graduated from Cornell and Columbia, my second brother from Cal-Tech and Columbia as well. Now both are lawyers. I was playing cute, adorable: third son who causes troubles which my parents actually adored. It seemed like that they were treating me as an extra card in their deck of cards at times. With strong desire to do something different, fun, exciting and even a little bit bizarre, I began to think about my near future. That is when I made my big decision to come to Korea and be a comedian.
People say that you have to be funny to be a comedian. A dog licking himself would be funny. To make other people laugh was a whole different game and I was not expecting that at all. I was smoking two packs of Marlboro Reds in a day to gain decent ideas. I was not funny; instead, I came up bitter and a bit nutty. In 2004, I auditioned for the first time for KBS and I failed. When I started packing my "not-so-funny" gear up to drag myself home, I was called up by producer Seo-Su-Min. "upgrade ideas by next week. We'll see how it goes." This had to be one of my greatest moments.
I thought of three main acts for my next audition. I had a comedic concept which compares U.S.A. to Korea. It would be funny to make fun of Korea in U.S., but it was vice versa taking into account that I was in Korea. Also, it was pretty ironic, considering the fact that I hate being compared to. With a grin on my face, I thought to myself. 'Wow, now you have to compare for living stupid.' The show was at 9PM but producers wanted me to arrive at KBS by 9AM. For 12 hours my suffering lasted. Before the show, I vomited three times. I was not even hired yet and they wanted me on the show. I was calming myself thinking about the movie 8mile, and told myself that Eminem went through the same thing when he first starting rapping. It was a ridiculous way to control my insides but it worked. After practicing the out of the ordinary self-calming method, the clock finished its race to 9PM.
I was actually a comedian for two whole years. How did I end up in HUFS? Apparently, comedians do not make a lot of money. Well, not enough for my needs. After being on a T.V. show for so long, I was fluent in both languages. I took my newly achieved skill as an opportunity to attend here in HUFS.
Now, I am happy about where I am in my timeline and my actual location as well. I hope to graduate and go corporate in mid-thirties. I wish to maintain myself from trying to be too different from my brothers whom doesn't know, nor care about my life, and do what I am good at. Even though I do not take the event as my most proud moments but this was really important in my life. This odd adventure helped me shape who I am today.
First of all, I like your draft very much. What I like most about your draft is that you have a very special experience; I have never seen or met someone who graduated from an American high school and came in Korea to be a comedian!
ReplyDeleteI think your main point is that what you have been through has shaped you the way who you are today.
I felt impressed by some specific examples that you provide when I first read your draft. For instances, "Marlboro" and "8 Mile" seem somewhat impressive to me because it makes your draft look more alive and even active.
But, there is one thing I concern about, and it is related with those specific examples. I am afraid that someone might have had no idea of what the movie, 8 mile is about and who Eminem is. I am pretty sure that if we do not know exactly who he is and what the movie is like, we can fully catch the point by your brief explanation; nontheless, my thinking is that it can be more fantastic when you may explain more about the movie. I also think that by doing so, you can relate your own experience and situation more effectively and interestingly with the story of the movie!
I am really glad that I could have a chance to read this wonderful story of yours.
Thank you.
This is actually so awesome.!
ReplyDeleteSo many young people forget about their dreams and just follow the directions what the society wants from us.
I felt always so sad about that. But you story is really interesting to me
Final Draft
ReplyDeleteI want to be Different
In 2003, I graduated from George Walton High School. Yet, I did not feel the need of going to university just yet. My oldest brother graduated from Cornell and Columbia, my second brother from Cal-Tech and Columbia as well. Now both are lawyers. I was playing cute, adorable, third son who causes troubles which my parents actually adored. It seemed like that they were treating me as an extra card in their deck of cards at times. With strong desire to do something different, fun, exciting and even a little bit bizarre, I began to think about my near future. That is when I made my big decision to come to Korea and be a comedian.
People say that you have to be funny to be a comedian. A dog licking himself would be funny but it wouldn’t make him a comic. To make other people laugh was a whole different game and oh boy, did I make a huge mistake. I was smoking two packs of Marlboros in a day to gain decent ideas. I was not funny; instead, I came up bitter and a bit nutty. In 2004, I auditioned for the first time for KBS and I failed. When I started packing my “not-so-funny” gear up to drag myself home, I was called up by producer Seo-Su-Min. “You, upgrade ideas by next week. We’ll see how it goes.” This had to be one of my greatest moments.
I thought of three main acts for my next audition. I had a comedic concept where I compare U.S.A. to Korea. It would be funny to make fun of Korea in U.S., but it was vice versa taking into account that I was in Korea. Also, it was pretty ironic, considering the fact that I hate being compared to. With a grin on my face, I thought to myself. ‘Wow, now you have to compare for a living stupid.’ The show was at 9 PM but producers wanted me to arrive at KBS by 9 AM. For 12 hours my suffering lasted. Before the show, I vomited three times. I was not even hired yet and they wanted me on the show. I was calming myself thinking about the movie 8mile, and told myself that Eminem went through the same thing when he first started rapping. Yes, it was an odd way to control my insides but it worked. After practicing a wacky self-calming method, the clock finished its race to 9 PM.
I was actually a comedian for two whole years. How did I end up in HUFS? Apparently, comedians do not make a lot of money. Well, not enough for my needs. After being on a T.V. show for so long, I was fluent in both languages. I took my newly achieved skill as an opportunity to attend here in HUFS.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am happy about where I am in my timeline and my actual location as well. I hope to graduate and go corporate in mid-thirties. I wish to maintain myself from trying to be too different from my brothers whom doesn't know, nor care about my life, and do what I am good at. Even though I do not take the event as one of my most proud moments but it is definitely an important part of my life. This odd adventure helped me shape who I am today. For that I am thankful.