The talents that the KIS 9th graders possess is hindered by an incessant strive on academics: students who hold on remarkable talents are rarely recognized by others because of the focus on grades and academic accomplishments rather than other activities. In order to manifest and uncover the talents that are hidden underneath the blanket, we will be introducing to you to several freshies that are uniquely talented.
Emma Kang: Art
For all of her life, Emma has been in love with drawing, sketching—art. She is an expert at designing common, everyday objects into comical and adorable characters. Her expertise does not end in sketching and drawing, however: she is also known for her artistic handwriting, as shown in her “Hello Blueprint” writing in the photo above. Just with one simple pen and a piece of paper, she is able to create an entire infographic that is easy to view yet filled with creativity here and there.
Alice Jo: Sports
A vehement and energetic sports player, Alice has been involved in sports ever since she was able to walk; she took part in cross country, basketball, and table tennis. Alice, in hope of connecting with her athletic father, asserted that sports is an essential part of her daily life and that her joining and completing cross country were her major achievements. She also believes that sport is a “human way to express oneself” and hopes that she would continue on her expression as long as she can remember all the great times with her teammates.
Juebin Roh: Piano
(2014 KIS MS Charity Concert Part II 7:35 ~ 11:46)
As the KIS Phoenix Jazz piano player with a total of 7 years of experience on the piano, Juebin is a professional at accompanying ensembles, whether it is a gargantuan band, a small duet. Just by watching her in this video from the 2014 MS Charity Concert, you can see her excellent sense of rhythm and musicality while she is playing. Not only is she talented at playing the piano, but she is also known for her wonderful clarinet skills. Juebin plans on continuing her high school music career with both instruments; piano in jazz band and clarinet in concert band.
Sam Seo: Cooking
Dedicating his pastime to cooking for the past 7 years, Sam Seo relishes cooking because it entertains those who consume his food. Although he has not been awarded with any prominent awards, his ardent and zeal for cooking still remains powerful and influential: Sam’s passion proves to us that one’s having a talent does not mean he or she has received innumerable accolades, but rather means that one has a strong, true devotion and dedication to the subject that he or she is interested in—this is true talent. Sam plans to expand his cooking talent by continuing on his prepping for dinner and believes that it is another term for ‘magic’.
Skylar Kim: Ukulele
(Can’t Help Falling in Love Cover by Skylar Kim)
Skylar is one excellent ukulele player. Having learned to play the ukulele by herself, she has uploaded several videos on Facebook as well as on Youtube to show her wonderful talent. Along with her beautiful voice, Skylar’s playing of the ukulele is mellifluous and harmonious; her ukulele accompaniment is well-fitting with her sweet voice.
These students are only a select few examples of the tremendous talent that the freshman class possesses. We cannot wait to reveal even more students with unimaginable talents. Please congratulate them and recognize them for their talents.
– Ariel Hyunseo Kim (’19) & Sarah Oh (’19)
