Courtney Hong Living
Living Assistant
Deborah Kim is not afraid to speak her mind.
Whether it’s on the topic of summer missions, Canadian pride or the disgusting nature of birds, Kim’s quick and unabashed responses belie the fact that she has never been interviewed before.
Take the question, “If you were to have one famous person alive or from history stranded with you on an island forevermore, who would you want it to be?” This might stump some interviewees initially, but Kim replies quickly, “Jesus, because then I could just walk off that island.”
A junior public relations major and non-profit management minor, Kim admits to an obsession with snowboarding and a penchant for watching Fox’s “The O.C.”
Canadian born, Kim calls La Ca–ada (near Pasadena) and Seattle, Wash. home, and is proud that she has dual citizenship. “No matter what anyone says, Canada is awesome,” Kim said. Though Kim did not visit Canada this summer, she has plenty to share about where she did go.
What were the highlights of your summer?
There were two main highlights. The first definitely was a missions trip I went on with my church, the Garden Christian Fellowship, for two weeks in Arizona. For the first week we went to Flagstaff. The second week, we went to a Navajo reservation, called Leupp. We did Vacation Bible School for the kids. It was a role reversal, me being in the position of counselor and teacher. It’s so crazy, the bonds you form with these kids, just through interacting and talking with them. A year ago, I would never have seen myself giving up two weeks of my summer to be in a hot, dusty environment. The whole experience was indescribable. The impact that the mission trip had on my faith was definitely life-changing because in recent years I haven’t been as true to my faith as I could have been. Your life becomes so much more worthwhile when you’re caring about other people. There are so many people out there who are in worse circumstances than I’m in but are so incredibly grateful for what they have. I saw these kids coming from such hard circumstances, yet they still came out to learn more about how God really does have a role in their lives.
How did participating in missions shape your view of God?
You don’t have to necessarily go to a foreign place to really see God work. He can work anywhere and everywhere, through anybody. If he can take a girl from La Ca–ada, who likes to take 40-minute showers, and can take her to Arizona where she had to take bucket showers, he can do anything.
What was second main highlight?
My other highlight of the summer, in stark contrast to going on a missions trip, was going to the Incubus concert at The Forum Aug. 18, with three of my very good friends. We were in the pit, and it was the greatest time ever, because I literally saw the beads of Brandon Boyd’s sweat. We arrived a little bit late, so we missed the opening and were more toward the back. We had our little designated meeting area, as everyone should have when they go to a concert. Somehow I was separated from all of my friends, and I ended up at the front. There was this guy who was quite aggressive with the beating of his head and created a bit of a sweat shower, if you will. Me and the girl next to me were literally showered in sweat. Towards the end, the band started throwing water bottles out to the crowd, and I actually got one. It fell on the floor and I snatched it up quite quickly, but I drank the water, because I was so thirsty.
What is one of your phobias?
I have a strange bird phobia, especially ugly birds like pigeons, crows0 and seagulls. They’re absolutely repulsive. Their flapping around makes me really, really nervous.
What color describes you?
Yellow. It’s just a very positive color. I associate it with being lighthearted, very affable, which I hope I am.
Do you go by anything other than Deborah?
If you see me around or get to know me, you will learn that you can call me whatever you like except for Debbie, because I absolutely abhor that name, for me personally. I don’t really identify with that name. If you call me Debbie and I ignore you, don’t take it personally.
09-15-2004