Olivia embodies Jean de la Fontaine’s quote, “beware so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.” The superficial or pedestrian would write Olivia off as just a pretty face. To stereotype her that way would be a mistake of catastrophic proportions. As far as college applications go, she has fantastic grades and scores to prove her “worth,” but those human manufactured measurements pale in comparison to the intrinsic value of her humanity.
Olivia doesn’t walk into a room so much as she floats like bubbles blown at a park on a sunny spring afternoon. You can see them suspended in the sky, dancing with the light of the sun. The ethereal breeze tricks us into believing that millions of little iridescent rainbows are dangling from the heavens above, on unique display just for each person who sees them. That’s what it feels like to be in her presence.
Effervescent is the best word to describe her, yet even it seems to fall flat while simultaneously feeling overpowering. I have literally spent days looking through my thesaurus for a way to describe Olivia with pith and profundity. I can’t do it. She has an energy that exudes off of her and it’s not sticky sweet positivity; it is extraordinarily grounded. Likewise, it’s not conceit, arrogance, or self interest. Olivia is at once effusively happy and, paradoxically, introspective and soulful. She is full of energy yet extraordinarily calming, and situationally silly with perfect timing. She’s smart without being arrogant, has big dreams without being boastful, and she exudes a humane egalitarianism. It’s genuine, the vibe that envelops her, not manufactured or contrived. I’ve never seen anything like it in a teen before.
In fact, after getting to know Olivia, I wonder if she thinks about herself at all. She is outwardly optimistic, leans into seeing the good in others, and is exceptionally kind. She acts on her sentiments. The old adage that beauty is only skin deep is a flat out lie, and we only need to look to de la Fontaine and Olivia for proof. Olivia is a beautiful human through and through.
The most stunning aspect of Olivia is how she carries the juxtaposition of two vastly different cultures/ethnicities in her singular person. She has a shared Korean and Jewish heritage and bears hallmarks of each, though in vastly different ways. The dark features of her father’s East Asian lineage are immediately and physically obvious; her stunningly thick, dark mane of hair, the bridge of her perfect nose, and tapered eyelids are immediate giveaways that she’s multi-ethnic. Her skin is like porcelain and it’s enviable. Genetics are strange in that way, with the most dominant trait carrying through and often obfuscating the other, equally important characteristics and pieces of a person. It’s easily distinguishable; one can look at Olivia and know she’s of Asian descent. But there is so much more to Olivia than what meets the eye.
Olivia’s Jewish faith and culture come through in her distinct approach to life and her associated views. She is her mother’s daughter in every sense of the word. Quite simply, her Jewish characteristics shine just as brightly as her Korean ones, just in different yet equally beautiful ways. The only way one gets access to this most special part of Olivia’s being is to get to know her, and that’s bittersweet. In getting to know her, I realized how many people are vastly misinformed and likely judgemental about her. They don’t get to know her. I did.
Jewish culture fascinates me, and always has. Whenever granted the opportunity to learn about any religion or history I take it. That’s my mom in me, reminding me that every last human on this planet is made as a reflection of God himself; how you interpret Him, them, or the ethereal force of life that created you is up to you. I grew up being taught to love all of humanity. From my mom, I think humans are the ones that mess it all up. I choose to believe that Jewish history and culture are as vital to the entire human existence as the air we breathe. As a Catholic, I sit very close to the several manifestations of Jewish faith and practice; in many ways, our ritual and history share the same ethos.
The thing is, you can feel Olivia’s Judaism radiating off of her as soon as she opens her mouth or interacts with others. It’s a unique humanity that is as palpable as her Korean lineage is visible. She has a distinct outlook, approach to daily life, and gratitude that I’ve only ever seen in Jewish culture. This is not to say other religions don’t show humanity, thankfulness, and altruism; it is to say that the Jewish expression of these faith-based ideals is extraordinarily unique and breathtakingly beautiful. While each faith practice is distinct, I am personally fascinated by Jewish faith and practice.
Olivia is the embodiment of Torah-based principles such as Tukkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedek (the pursuit of justice), and Derekh Eretz (upholding human dignity). And while she may bear her mother’s high arched eyebrows and twinkle to her smile, these aren’t uniquely Jewish traits. Because of the diaspora, the Jewish community bears all levels of melanin in their skin and has eyes as colorful as the rainbow when looking at the windows to their soul. They have hair of all textures and hail from every corner of the globe. What I am trying to say in the most politically correct way possible is that the idea that people “look Jewish” is rooted in xenophobia, ethnocentrism, and antisemitism, hard stop.
Olivia is her mother’s daughter through and through. She has been shaped by the unique craft of Jewish motherhood, growing up through a blend of adherence to ancient traditions while accepting modernity and respecting oneself while simultaneously embracing diversity. The home in which she was raised is a curated and sacred space that is distinct to her faith. If you’ve ever been invited into a Jewish home, you know of that to which I speak. There’s at once a practicality and determinism to Olivia that is moderated by an otherworldly calm.
Simply stated, Olivia’s Judaism is as obvious when you talk to her as her East Asian lineage is when you look at her. And, for me, it’s her inner beauty that forces the doubletake and reassessment of her. Though, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’d mortgage myself for her skin and hair.
After 5 minutes with her, it was clear she’s self-aware, but it is contextualized against her service to others and her position relative to those around her, especially the less fortunate. Where Olivia will make her biggest impact on the world is a question that perplexes me because the possibilities are endless. She wholly believes that mainstream society should completely accept differently abled people and she loves all of God’s creatures, horses especially. She is a gifted equestrian and makes an absolutely terrifying sport look graceful. Olivia does not miss an opportunity to help or elevate others, to slow down and reflect, or to stand up for what’s right. She is, in a word, authentically Jewish.
Finding her topic was not an easy undertaking; actually it was damn near impossible. We talked for hours as we sat in her sacred space, mom refreshing snacks and water. After exhausting all of the prosaic options, it occurred to me that Olivia is vastly misunderstood, even by me, because I took a first glance at her beauty and made the mistake of letting her physical characteristics dominate my assumptions. She is labeled and othered because of her beautifully complex origins. Writing the Common App essay with integrity is required to stand out and it’s difficult enough, but it’s made exponentially harder if your audience cannot begin to understand your perspective. I fear that Olivia lives in a world that neither knows nor seems to care about hers.
Our topic quagmire forced me to back up and look at Olivia in totality. Only then was I able to see that the sum total of her parts does not equal more than the pieces themselves. She strikes a balance few can understand much less pull off. Can you imagine how difficult cultural integrity must be for her to achieve?
The sun-drenched bubbles race to my forethought again. To truly appreciate bubbles, you must be proximal and intermingled with them because no two bubbles are alike, yet it is clear they are of the same beginning. Each is distinct in elliptical shape and longevity, and some stop you dead in your tracks and leave you awestruck because of their size or resplendence. They waft along with the tiniest ones and stay suspended in animation in such mysterious and mystical ways. Each bubble perfectly compliments the others in their distinct qualities, yet they are all bubbles in origin, offering a sense of purpose and stability, cohesiveness. To me, the Jewish community is as amazing as a sea of bubbles dancing along the horizon.
It’s a sad reality, but Olivia is presented with very unique, yet potentially beneficial, challenges in her life. To know Olivia is to appreciate her beyond her striking outward appearance; it is to know the intricacies of her heart and soul and to have a deep respect for her faith. Does the Korean community experience ostracism like the Jewish one? I believe so, but likely in many different ways. Not being either, my assumptions are based only on an extensive education in the social sciences contextualized against the privilege I carry with me. In simpler terms, I don’t see or experience things like she does. But I think Olivia, as a multiethnic young woman, has an amazing opportunity to help enlighten the world.
The fact that Olivia is a blessed potpourri of humanity grants her the unique opportunity to introduce many to Judaism and the intrinsic beauty of her ethnoreligiosity; college campuses are the perfect venue to challenge outdated ideas. What better place for working against antisemitism than at the cradle of learning? I can see Olivia’s bubbles wafting through her campus, little shimmering orbs reminding people to look upward and with awe rather than downward and closed off. We all are, after all, sitting beneath the same vast expanse that is the sky above.
She got into her first choice in the Deep South, a huge SEC powerhouse, but she will end up westward, on a campus that offers a better fit, familiarity, and adventure. Incidentally, it is also a more arid climate, which is the perfect venue for her bubbles to take flight around others because they stay adrift much longer. I hope people take a moment to truly appreciate her as she floats by and the totality of who she is. Because I did and I’m awestruck.
Godspeed my friend, you are going to do amazing things in this world.
