About Writing

From fear and insecurity to hope and possibility

Growing up, I never liked writing. A blank sheet of paper felt daunting. Reading books wasn't a hobby of mine, and I never felt a true connection with words.

Fast forward to my twenties: I moved to the US for school from Korea. Words became even more foreign to me—both literally and figuratively. Every attempt to speak or write required tremendous effort. As a design major, I found some comfort in communicating through visuals.

During a grad school group project, I watched in awe as my teammate effortlessly wrote a report dozens of pages long. While I contributed visual assets and layout design, I couldn't write a single word.

That comfort with visual communication didn't last. I soon realized that writing is essential for growing and thriving as a professional designer. Visuals, no matter how powerful, rarely speak for themselves.

Then there were deeper reasons for me to start taking writing seriously.

Looking inward, I realized my aversion to writing stemmed from fear and insecurity. I convinced myself I had nothing interesting to say, that my thoughts carried little weight in a world already overflowing with ideas. Written words held such permanence and authority that I felt intimidated to leave my mark.

Then, as an experiment, I started writing short posts on social media. Beyond the fleeting dopamine rush from likes and views, I discovered unexpected joy: people would actually pause to read my words, even if for just a few seconds. Could my words make people stop, read, and—perhaps—think? This revelation amazed me.

I began seeing potential and hope in a deeper layer of myself that I had failed to notice before. Discovering and honing this new voice might finally pull me out of the old shell I'd inhabited for most of my life. It was a cozy and safe place, but it had always left me wondering about what the world outside might look like.

Now I'm reaching out to words, anticipating their beauty and power to take me places. Though my writing may still be rough around the edges, I've made peace with this once "foreign" language. Through it, I'll discover new ways to connect—both with myself and with the world around me.

Hence, this Substack. Some call it a newsletter, others a blog, but for me it's a little drafting table—a space for personal discovery and growth. I'm more excited than I ever imagined about where this journey might lead.

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