Wow...my first year in college is officially over. I'm excited for summer break, but it's sad to see that I am 25% done with college.

It's crazy how fast this year went by. I can still remember when I first checked out UCLA at Bruin Day and was super tired because this campus is freaking HUGE.

During week zero, I remember moving in and being forced to move out the next day because of a bed bug infestation. Honestly, that was a pretty rough first week of school, but I'm so thankful for the people who helped me and my roommates move our stuff in and out of our dorm.

Zero week was honestly so tough because I was (and still am) an introvert. I'm pretty sure I said my name, year, major, and Myers-Briggs around fifty or so times during that week. I also managed to forget people's names within ten seconds of them telling me (sorry!!).

I remember that I was so motivated during fall quarter, and I would actually get all my work done and sleep by midnight. What a mess I am now. I had aspirations to double major, double minor, get a Den Pass, and join a ton of clubs...yikes. Those things never really came to fruition, but I know that I will find my own path in due time.

This year was so enlightening in that I learned how to live with other people besides my family (kind of), how to respect other people's decisions, and how to voice my own opinions. Though I wouldn't say that I'm fully mature or responsible, I would definitely say that this was a year of growth—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and academically.

This past year, I was able to join a campus ministry, Korean-American Campus Missions (KCM), that had people who really kept me accountable and helped me grow in my relationship with God.

I sincerely believe that God placed this community in my life as a way for me to glorify Him and meet brothers and sisters who I would be able to talk to when going through a hard time, share spiritual and academic struggles with, cry with at two in the morning, learn CPR and self defense with, and laugh with until I thought I was going to get a six-pack. Thank you, and I love you guys.

I also ventured out to participate in the creation of an yearly performance, Korean Culture Night (KCN), as a part of the set team (#setteambestteam). It was so encouraging to see students working so hard to bring a hidden, yet prominent issue in South Korea to light.

I also joined the Odyssey, as you can see, to improve my writing abilities, display my opinions, and meet new people. I'm thankful to have this platform as a creative outlet.

I continued to pursue my passion for the unheard and unseen people in North Korea as a member of the Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) organization. I'm thankful that I can continue to be a part of something that is so important and deserving of so much recognition and acknowledgment.

I even went to a dance workshop to learn a choreography piece for Rihanna's "Rude Boy." Let me tell you…I am seriously uncoordinated, but I ended up auditioning for the program. Though I wasn't able to get in, I think it was still a good opportunity for me to explore new things, and I'm grateful for those who pushed me out of my comfort zone.

One thing I would say to incoming freshmen: have fun and don't limit yourself to what you think you can do. There's so many different things on a college campus, so take every opportunity to explore different things while you still can.

Goodbye, freshman year. You've been so difficult, yet so rewarding. I'm definitely looking forward to the next three years of college.