by Giulia De Paoli |
Amid so much uncertainty for young people, Christine Kim, a 22-year-old student at the University of Portland, shows having fun is still possible.
“All I dream of is going back to Saipan, running a little restaurant, and being happy with my family and friends,” Kim said.
Kim, born and raised in Saipan, a small island in the Pacific, moved to Portland in 2013 to attend University of Portland under her parents and high school advisers’ recommendations. She is now a junior, pursuing a dual-degree in organizational communication and Spanish.
Kim said she originally wished to attend UC Santa Barbara, but Kim’s aunt, residing in the Portland area, persuaded her to stay in Oregon. Eventually, she adjusted to the thought of “not wearing summer clothing anymore,” and now she is happy to be in Portland.
Apart from the academic world, Kim says with a gentle and expansive smile that she enjoys watching TV shows or Korean drama in bed, regularly working out at the gym, and performing Tahitian dance.
Kim also listens to reggae music and takes the opportunity to go dance with her friends at bars such as the Shake, located downtown.
After college, Kim is undecided whether she’ll explore a career in public relations or continue her studies, deepening her knowledge in conflict management and negotiation. However, the dream of going back to Saipan and managing a sustainable restaurant is still alive.
Kim is now helping the Hawaiian club to put together an event in March called Lu’au in which she will be choreographing and performing as a Tahitian dancer.
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