Holding up a light stick in the midst of the silver ocean for the infamous Korean pop band EXO has been a long awaited dream until it came true on Friday, February 19. 

I have been waiting ever since I became a fan of EXO in 2013 to attend one of their concerts. I told myself that once in my lifetime I must see them no matter what. I had made plans that I’m going to work hard to save up money to attend their concert. But a month before the concert took place; I had given up that dream. I really thought that it would be impossible for me to see Exo because they are too famous and that their company never tours America. But a week after I had given up, the announcement for the Exo’luXion North American tour came out and luckily enough, Chicago was on the tour list.

So the preparations had begun. The first step was to buy the ticket. The event took place at Rosemont Theatre so only 4,400 people were allowed and thousands of fans trying to buy tickets at 7:30 sharp got me tickets in section 107 row s seat six. Even though I didn’t get tickets in the standing pit, I was lucky enough to get seats on the floor so I was satisfied.

The next step was to order my official Exo’luXion light stick. Light sticks are a must for a kpop concert as they are known for their colorful oceans. Exo’s fan club color is silver and I couldn’t be happier that I actually get a chance to be a part of their silver ocean. The third step was to get my outfit ready for the concert. I wore a Korean style black t-shirt dress with an official Exo crew neck over it, which has my favorite members name written on the back of it (Chen...and Lay...and Kris).

After all the preparations, the long-awaited day had finally arrived. On Friday, I printed my tickets and headed out my front door at four to arrive by five. When I arrived, there were hundreds of people already lined up. During the hour long wait for the doors to open, a flash mob near the entrance of the venue had kept me entertained, which was another dream of mine that I wanted to experience. Several people joined the flash mobs to dance to popular kpop songs.

The doors had been opened, and now it was time to walk into the same building that Exo was in. As I walked into the concert hall, I was overwhelmed by the huge screen that read, “EXO PLANET #2: The Exo’luXion."

At that point, I realized my dream is becoming a reality. After waiting another hour, the concert had begun and I just let loose all my emotions that were built up for Exo for over the past few years. I screamed to the top of my lungs throughout the entire concert. At the concert, I finally got to join in on the fan chants and got to wave my light stick in the air during their songs, which was my ultimate dream as a kpop fan.

At the concert, I realized how much they loved us and how much I loved them. One of the members mentioned that because we wanted them here, they came. That’s when I really felt they care about us. Throughout the concert, a nostalgic VCR played which was about the personal relationship between Exo-Ls (official fanclub) and Exo. It entailed the hardships they had endured ever since debut. They talked about that even though they were clumsy when they first debuted in 2012, we still stick with them all the way to this point and how thankful they are for our support. I realized that the love us as much as we love them.

Sadly, as the night went on, the concert had come to end. They greeted us and went their ways. I exited the concert hall and met up with my sisters. When I tried to speak to them, I realized that my voice was gone. Then we went outside the theatre and saw a huge crowd gathered around screaming. I was wondering why they were screaming. Soon I found out that it was for none other than Exo as they fans saw them exiting the venue and getting into their vans. I saw their van take off and I did something that I told myself I’d never do, I chased after the van. It was the closest I’d ever had been to them so I let out one more scream in excitement as I saw their van leave for good.

After the concert, I felt so close to Exo. I felt like I personally know them as they complemented us on good concentration and communication throughout the concert (yay for Chicago Exo-Ls)! My love for them is on a completely different level than before, a level that I thought that didn’t exist. Everything that I had dreamed of came true that night.

I waited in line for an hour, watched a flash mob, did the fan chants, screamed till I lost my voice, waved the silver light stick in the air and followed their van after the concert. At the end of the day, I was happy that I got the full experience from the concert that I had dreamed of. It was definitely a night that I will carry on with me for the rest of my life.