Stories of Empowerment

As a child, I used to think it was a curse that our family moved so frequently. Although I eventually learned how to quickly adapt myself to new environments, I always dreaded leaving the place of familiarity. Growing up in three different countries -Korea, America, and Canada - and transferring to 16 different schools molded me into an adventurous individual, but infused a sense that my life was rootless and insignificant.
Insignificant was how Bangladeshi women used to feel about themselves, too. These women that I met in the slums of Dhaka and the rural villages of Durgapur were taught to believe that their sole purpose in life was to be subservient to the male figures in their lives. The stories of transformation and empowerment that were rising in these communities, however, gave me hope and challenged me to fully use the voice that I have.
My trip to Bangladesh was a pivotal moment in my life that helped me to transition from Biology to filmmaking. Encountering powerful stories from women who were once voiceless, inspired me to become a storyteller who can communicate such stories to others. Seven months ago, I moved back to America from Canada to study documentary filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, and this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The World Nomad Scholarship will enable me to become a better documentary maker with more empathy and experience, further equipping me to become the great storyteller I hope to be.