Heart and Seoul

Upon entering the summer class of news reporting and writing I encountered a personable young man who is my classmate. His name is Adam Michaelson. He is a twenty-year old Korean American born on April 16, 1988. Adam was born in South Korea and spent the first four months of his young life in a foster home. At four months old, an American couple adopted Adam through an agency called New Beginnings. The adoptive parents were happy with a photograph of baby Adam. He became part of an American family where he would be cherished forever, as is an older Korean sister named Sarah, who was adopted into the Michaelson family prior to Adam. His medical background is an enigma. He has traced his biological mother, but does not communicate with her.

The Family of four live in Roslyn Heights. Joanne, is Adam’s fifty-six year old Italian American mother. She is a registered nurse. Keith, is Adam’s fifty-eight year old Jewish-American father. He is a computer analyst for Northrup Grumman. This family unit would fit the description as an upper-middle class of a high socioeconomic level. Adam was Bar-Mitzvahed at Temple Sinai in Roslyn, which brings him into the Jewish faith. Traditionally, Sunday is family day. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and the immediate family have a festive dinner together, usually an Italian meal.

Adam has many interests, which serve him well. A few of his interests emanate from spending valuable family time. For example, his woodworking skills enable him to create bookcases, and other wood furniture. It seems that Adam’s interests have inspired him to perfect his passion for photography. In 1999, Adams late uncle gave him an Olympus OM-1 35 millimeter camera; His fondness for his uncle awakened a hobby, which would blossom with time. Adam combined his love for photography with his involvement with exotic cars. Adam’s favorite car is a Porsche Carrera GT3, White with green interior. In 2005 an acquaintance in the car club in which he belongs afforded him the contact, which enabled him to promote and publish his work in S3 magazine and on cardomain.com, both popular car enthusiast outlets.

Adam Michaelson is an assistant to wedding photographers. “Often I feel like I noticed things that others would overlook and that is one of the main things driving me as a photographer to capture that moment, and share it with the world”.

As a young person interested in his future as well as world conditions Adam expresses concern about many issues. As with most young people the war in Iraq has become a very important subject. “The continuing Iraqi war has affected our economy and the elevated gas prices which impact everyday life. We are now limited by an inflated economy. The end of this recession is not yet in sight. The war has ended the lived of many young soldiers and that becomes a tragedy for all times”

After the brief time I have had the pleasure of getting to know this young man and his youthful, but wise insight as to the complexities of war, economics, and politics. I learned from him a new perspective on life. His views, his understandings are something for me to emulate. I look forward to engaging in future communication and friendship. It seems that he has peaked in me a new interest that I have a desire to continue or enhance from our relationship. It was enlightening and refreshing to see that people of different origins can blend into a united family.