Lately I've been busy working on my professional portfolio so I haven't been posting as much, but I do have a surplus of posts and I am going to try and do one post per day. Let's see if I can ;).

In the meantime, I thought I would share a little illustration I did.

It is my first caricature and it... is... of... me! I'm not exactly "trained" in illustration, but I'll keep practicing and hopefully I'll improve.  

"She" (little Kam) may pop up here from time to time. I think she could be a good tool to explain the little scenarios I get myself into; whether it is related to my condition, thoughts or just life.

I guess I'll give a little background on myself...shall I start from the beginning?  

Ahem, In a town far far away under a starry starry sky...

I was born in a little hospital in Daegu, South Korea. Shortly after my birth my biological mother abandoned me leaving no trace of her identity. The nurse named me Young-eun, which translates to something like, shining silver or silver bell. So there I was born into struggle from the start, an orphan, along with a list of medical problems. I was born with a cleft palate, at 5 months old had chicken pox and measles in the same week and even had a deadly liver virus.

How could someone so small make it through? A cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined. I was extremely fortunate as this was not accompanied by cleft lip or other parts of the face, which it usually does.

The deadly virus ended up going into dormit a couple years later and the chicken pox and measles? Well, I still have the scars :).

Growing up I was pretty sensitive to these scars because kids would make fun of the ones on my face. In addition, due to my cleft palate, I had a slight speech issue, so obviously that was an easy target to make fun of, too.

 

--- Coming to America ---

After getting better I was later transferred to a crowded orphanage in Daegu and then into foster care the last 6 months of my time in Korea. At 4 years of age I was adopted by an American family and traveled to the United States to finally live with them.

My mother, Australian, and father, American, already had 3 sons and now me.

I would say my childhood was pretty "normal".  With 3 brothers I grew up a tom boy and played alot of sports. I was my dad's fishing partner and this included ice fishing.

Yes, ice fishing! I guess the other day some of the older guys we would see around the ice hole asked my dad about me.  

I played Soccer for about 11 years or so, including high school soccer.  During high school my condition starting expressing symptoms, but at the time I was completely unaware. I've had HIBM since birth, it's in my genes but it allowed me to have a good "run" for 18 years before demanding its voice to be heard.

I practiced Isshinryu Karate for some years until my condition got the best of me. My friend nicknamed me "Dragon Lady".  

Not many know, but before I "bowed" out I was to go up for my next promotion; a black belt. When I felt the test was coming I bowed out because that's not how I wanted to get promoted; feeling all broken and frustrated from my non-functioning body.

I wasn't as concerned about the title and I guess in my mind I wanted to do my black belt test like everyone else with no special treatment.  

My condition was starting to really take notice and I had difficulty achieving balance and doing simple kicks. Looking back I'm not sure not sticking around to get my black belt was the right decision. There was actually a well-known black belt in a wheelchair in the Southfield dojo.

But hey, I was new to this and my condition was taking me on a tailspin. At the time I didn't even know what was wrong with my body and I don't think anyone, including myself, imagined it would be like this. 

 

--- What I do ---

I'm now an Industrial Designer and I truly LOVE what I do. How fortunate am I to be able to do what I love? I guess as a child I wanted to be all the typical things like paleontologist, doctor, lawyer. I did draw in high school, but never expected that it could be my profession.

Throughout school I was your typical good student and from early on I knew if I wanted to do anything in my life I would have to save to get myself there.

My family wasn't poor but they had four kids and wouldn't be able to support my collegiate endeavors. Since I was a kid I was a saver. If my grandma gave me easter money I would put it away and save it.

Was I a squirrel?

Many times I worked 2 jobs and at one point 3 to get myself through college, car bills, medical bills, apartment, etc.  It's nice to be given everything but I am actually quite thankful to have had the opportunity to work for everything I have. Though I don't feel in anyway my path means every one else who struggles has no excuse.

 

--- How did I find out I wanted to do be a designer? ---

After high school I attended community college, so I could save more until I decided what I wanted to do with my life. 

There was never just a moment of "what do I want to do with my life?" where I figured it out immediately.  

I don't think it works like that and the answer doesn't remain the same throughout your life.  

We constantly evolve and so do our passions. It is a continuous building upon prior experience and self, but I digress. At that time I wanted to be an architect. I was accepted into Lawrence Tech University, a Michigan based college specializing in architecture. I was even given a small scholarship.  

In addition, I was also awarded a 4 year full ride to Wayne State University. Wayne State is most known for it's medical program and at one point I even considered entering the medical field.  

During the search for my diagnosis I had met a chain of terrible doctors and thought, "They have all this book knowledge, but they have no life knowledge, no compassion, no passion..." and I thought perhaps that was something I could offer given my current experience.  

I ended up turning down that Wayne State's scholarship. Why? If you asked me then I would say stupidity, but if you ask me now I would say it wasn't a bad decision except I did trade that full ride in for a high-priced Design college that could possibly leave me in debt forever ;).  

I had heard about this private art and design college in Detroit called, College for Creative Studies.

I heard it was one of the best so on the fly I stuffed a bunch of art work into a portfolio and drove to the college admissions. I actually didn't expect I would be accepted since their reputation was known for letting only the best of the best in. But they accepted me on the spot.

Wow, how lucky was I!??  

Right then and there they asked me what I wanted to major in and my face drew a blank...hmmm, I hadn't thought that far... photography? fine arts?

The admissions suggested Industrial Design. "Hmmmm, what is that?, I replied.  

Blindly I went into the program and fortunately ended up loving it.  I know, not exactly a planned out decision but I would say much of life is like that and you have to go with it.

Not everything should be planned but yea, risky when it costs that much and you don't have the luxury of someone else paying for your school.

I ended up majoring in Automotive Design, though I did  product and graphic design projects on the side.

What is Industrial Design? It's all the "stuff" around us. Everything and anything. From shoes, cell phones, computers, coffee makers, tooth brush, furniture, cooking ware...

Like I said, I love what I do. I love design and all its potential. I love how it touches many facets and it is not just about the drawing rather the combination of processes: problem solving, business, creativity, communication, psychology, sociology, people and everything in between.  

 

--- Then came marriage and a ...dog? ---

I'm married and have a little dog Pippi.  I ended up marrying my friend Jason in September of 2009. We went to same college but didn't date until 6 years later.  

When I was a freshman at CCS, he was a sophomore and by chance we met near the parking elevators. Apparently he had seen me around campus and I've never been sure if this "chance" meeting was staged ;).  

At the elevators he asked me to go to Detroit Greek Town for dinner and I agreed.  My mom always told me to be careful with strangers and I obviously did not listen but he looked harmless enough. I assessed the situation and knew I could take him down if needed ;).  

We went to Greek Town that night and afterwards hung out from time to time throughout school. But I never was really interested in dating. It just wasn't the right time.

Years later, he moved to California for a job and after I graduated I ended up moving to California as well.  I was having a hard time finding a job and Michigan winters were getting hard anyways, so I had been considering on moving to California. There were more design opportunities in west coast and I was itching to look for work.  

One day out of the blue Jason had called me.  We had not really kept in touch, but after that call we started talking on a regular basis. I told him my plans of moving to California and he strongly encouraged it...and well...that encouragement led to me moving to Cali and then of course dating.  

Jason has been my very patient support through all of this and I'm so very grateful for him. I couldn't do much of what I do without him or at the very least it would be that much more difficult if I was doing it alone.

My move to Cali led to a job, a husband. California is also where I first found out about ARM and met my first HIBM patient; the very thing my Michigan doctors told me would never happen.

So, that is it, a little quick intro to my life. 

I'm a designer, but not "designerly".  I love to cook good food because it gathers people, but not a foodie.  I'm a dreamer and seek for potential. I look forward to the future because in 10 years I hope I'm doing something totally unexpected. The older I get the more adventure I desire and internally I feel like I am constantly learning and growing. Sometimes it feels like it is too fast for me to keep up with.

I have a "disability" that challenges me every second of every day but I'm not without ability.

And like the quick little background I just gave on my life, my condition is just another chapter in my life.

Despite it and even because of it. I am still me. Kam.