Jeong Kim Interview (page: 2 / 6) Communications Revolution	Print Interview

Do you have any contact with your father and stepmother?

Jeong Kim: Yes, but not close contact. I've tried to make peace with my Dad, but not successfully. We didn't make a complete truce, and it's kind of disappointing. When a relationship goes bad, I feel that both parties had to do something that caused it to go bad. I thought I did my part in apologizing. I thought that was appropriate because obviously he would never kick me out for no reason. He must have felt that I was making his life miserable, and I apologized for that. But, he didn't really apologize for his part, which makes it very difficult for me to accept fully.

Have you had any sense of pride from him in what you have accomplished?

Jeong Kim: No. He knows that I've done all these things, but he hasn't contacted me.

You were 16 years old. You were on your own. Now what? How did you make your life?

Jeong Kim: I had a math teacher who I liked a lot because he played chess, and he liked me. I couldn't think of a place to go, so I told him about my situation and he lent me his basement room. I paid for the room, but he and his wife were kind enough to take me under their wing.

Were you good in math?

Jeong Kim: I was okay. I was a good student.

Was chess important to you?

Jeong Kim: No. It was a part of learning different things. Kids said, "Let's try this," and I said, "Okay." I'm good at those kinds of games, so I became pretty good real fast.

How did you earn money to pay him rent?

Jeong Kim: I worked a graveyard shift at 7-11. That's 11 in the evening until seven in the morning. I went to school during the day, and then on weekends I'd mow the lawn, deliver newspapers and work in restaurants as busboy and that kind of thing, which is what a lot of people do. But, working the night shift was hard because you know, you still do need sleep.
[ Video ] Low High    [ Audio ] Quicktime	[ Key to Success ] Perseverance

When did you sleep?

Jeong Kim: I slept after school. I had to wait until the teacher finished because I didn't have transportation, and then slept from six to nine or ten, about three or four hours a day.

Do you still get by on so little sleep?

Jeong Kim: Not anymore.

I had a problem because I didn't sleep as much for so long, that for a long time I would have an interview like this and I would just fall asleep, I mean for no reason and it comes very sudden. It used to scare me a lot. I mean, there were times that I was driving on the Beltway going home and I fell asleep on my wheel and hit a police car, and that wasn't very pleasant.
[ Video ] Low High    [ Audio ] Quicktime

That lasted for a long time. I try to sleep now, so I don't have that kind of symptom anymore.

How much sleep do you require to feel okay these days?

Jeong Kim: About six or seven hours.

Jeong Kim Interview, Page: 1   2   3   4   5   6