3. the sales persona

For all intents and purposes, my parents consider me a failure – a washout of the American dream.

1. I didn't go to Harvard (and believe me, I tried). But:

2. I didn't become a lawyer or doctor. (didn’t try) because:

Instead, I spent the last 15 years seeking nobility in the life of a starving artist; a Korean parents worst nightmare.

But my story isn’t unique. Tons of Asians can relate to this sentiment. (Harvard or bust.) This would be an example of how, sometimes, stereotypes hold some truth.

The problem with stereotypes is that they don’t seek to understand how there is always more to a story. Everyone can’t be grouped into something so surface-level.

For example, this particular stereotype is partly a product of inherited trauma. Many Asians come from a long history of being colonized and it was the highly educated (doctors/lawyers/academics) who prospered.

Which is probably why you don't see too many Asian people in sales. Something I expected going in.

Still, I was surprised by what I encountered on the sales floor. Outside of being Asian, I thought I would be an unusual hire. Failed figure skater. Failed writer. Still a dreamer. 

But everyone here reminds me of myself – a collection of misfits coming from all walks of life: NFL veterans, grade school teachers, chiropractors, volleyball players, pro chefs, international relations majors, pro baseball players, musicians, publicists, English teachers in Korea.

The list goes on, a slice of the worldly pie — people who shared similar dreams and decided to move on, most of whom reached even greater heights than me in their previous lives.

But one thing brought us together. 

The central want of the human experience/the desire for a better life.

One marked by financial independence and, hopefully…

Freedom.

Yours truly,

RIP Ninja

Slanging AI since October 2023

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