2010-2011 Doug and Grace Laughlin Scholarship Winner: Michael Choi

The son of first generation immigrants, Michael grew up disconnected from his Korean culture, often shoving it aside to be more like the “normal” kids. Not until Michael was exposed to a more diverse student body in middle school did he open up to share his Korean values and beliefs.

“I started discussing the Korean War with my Dad: how my grandfathers fought in North Korean regiments. Conversing in Korean became second nature. As I began opening up to my heritage, my parents also began opening up to their social responsibilities as parents in an American community.”

As he aged, Michael embraced certain Asian stereotypes. Among these was that ‘Asians are academically prudent’, Michael converted this stereotype into positive energy for his school work. He graduated in the top 4% of his high school class with several honors, in addition to contributing to his school’s award-winning yearbook, the Olympus, as the editor-in-chief. Michael was also the Principal Flutist of the school’s symphonic band and a ranked doubles player on the badminton team. Currently, he is an undergraduate student at University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Environmental Science.

“Despite my undying dependency on my parents whom I, at a young age, grew resentment towards, I want to prove that I am capable of penetrating boundaries on my own.” says Michael. “Growing up I wanted to conceal my ethnic background, but now I know there’s no shame in being a minority.”

Unfortunately, money is always a problem for Michael and his family. “It is now in my responsibilities to continue my academic endeavors, as well as to assist as much as I can to alleviate my family’s potential economic turmoil.”

Michael is now recognizing his true potential as a student, and, ultimately as an ambitious person. His career goal is to work for the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food and Drug Administration.

College Parents of America is proud to award Michael Choi the First Generation College Student Scholarship and hope that the award can help Michael achieve his education goals.