John Youn grew up in Cypress Park, Los Angeles. His earliest memorable experience was a bus ride to downtown LA with his mom. He was an introverted child, influenced by his hardworking mother to start working at 17. John is proud of earning his bachelor’s degree at 27. John aspires to own a ranch in the future, inspired by his desire for a change from city life.
TRANSCRIPT:
Johann Rosas: What is your full name and where does it come from?
John Youn: My name is John Youn. My mother is Mexican and my father is Korean. My last name is of Korean descent.
JR: Where did you grow up?
JY: I grew up in Cypress Park, Los Angeles, California.
JR: What would you say your earliest memory is?
JY: My earliest My earliest memory is me and my mom on the bus headed towards downtown Los Angeles.
JR: And what made it so memorable?
JY: It was one of the first times I got to see the city and I spoke with my mom the entire way.
JR: And was that nice?
JY: It was exciting to see as I have never seen high rises so tall.
JR: What were you like as a kid?
JY: I was quiet and to myself somewhat of an introvert.
JR: And why would you say you’re introvert?
JY: Because I was really shy. I didn’t like interacting with a bunch of the kids unless I had to.
JR: Who was your biggest influence growing up?
JY: My biggest influence was my mother. She was a very hard worker, and she always encouraged me to work as hard as I can.
JR: And what have you done in your life that was influenced by her?
JY: working at a young age, I started working at about 17. As soon as I finished high school, I went straight into college and worked full time.
JR: What was your first job?
JY: My first job was working at a 99 cent store. I was a cashier, and I stocked merchandise.
JR: Did you ever get in trouble as a kid?
JY: I did a lot, but I grew out of it.
JR: What’s the lesson you learned the hard way,
JY: I would say, not focusing on school as much as I should have.I wish I would have put my full 100% attention towards it, instead of trying to work so much.
JR: And what lesson does that teach you?
JY: Taught me that, Taught me that I should concentrate on bettering myself instead of just going with the flow.
JR: What are you most proud of in your life?
JY: I’m about to receive my bachelor’s degree at 27 years old, so I’m really proud of that.
JR: That’s so cool. How do you define happiness?
JY: Happiness is defined to me as something, a feeling I get inside that just can’t get taken away from me.
JR: Who were your closest friends growing up?
JY: My closest friend was my neighbor and cousin of mine.Other than that,I would say just them too.
JR: And what did you guys do?
JY: together when we were young, we played cars in the streets, rode bicycles and stuff, and then as we got older, we started playing sports such as baseball, football with each other.
JR: Do you prefer dogs or cats?
JY: Dogs.
JR: Why dogs?
JY: Friendlier cats sometimes seem a little scary.
JR: Like, what makes them scary?
JY: Just the way they lick themselves and stuff, I think it’s a bit weird, and the way they growl and stuff.
JR: Like, what were some shows you watched growing up as a kid?
JY: Very Odd Parents, Futurama, Family Guy, That 70s Show, Sweet Life, Is that Cody?, That’s All Raven.
JR: Okay, what is your favorite color?
JY: Black? Like my soul.
JR: Why Black?
JY: No, I think it just matches everything.
JR: Everything?
JY: Yeah.
JR: What’s your favorite food?
JY: Hamburgers, as plain as that sounds, hamburgers,
JR: Hamburgers? Nothing else, nothing, nothing else. Hamburgers, pizza?
JY: Pizza, lasagna.I mean, but first, hamburgers.
JR: Hamburgers, okay, um, what was your favorite subject in school?
JY: Science. I enjoyed science projects. I enjoyed seeing my professor show us certain things within science.
JR: What was your favorite teacher in all of your schools, like elementary, middle and high school. Out of all of those, what was your favorite teacher?
JY: Oh, Mrs. Williams. She was my fourth grade teacher. You could tell she really enjoyed teaching, and she always motivated me in class to do the best I can, and I’ll always remember that.
JR: Who was your first love?
JY: My first love was Jasmine, my current wife.
JR: How did you meet her?
JY: We met in high school. We were high school sweethearts, and we’re still going strong to this day.
JR: Okay, what is the secret to a strong relationship?
JY: The secret to a strong relationship is being able to forgive and not getting mad at every single little thing that might take you off by doing so you are able to think more calmly and rationally, and you’re faster to try to see the other person’s point of view, which I think helps a relationship a lot.
JR: What music do you listen to?
JY: Rap so far.
JR: What’s your favorite, not what’s your favorite book. Currently-
JY: My Accounting Limit, lemonade stand book, understand.
JR: What’s that about?
JY: accounting principles, but in basic terms, so the average person could understand it.
JR: What’s your favorite movie currently?
JY: F1 was a great movie. I enjoyed it,
JR: And what did you enjoy about it?
JY: Seeing that one car racing. It had good visuals, and Brad Pitt was in it.
JR: Brad Pitt, is he cool? Do you like Brad Pitt?
JY: Oh yeah, he’s a good actor.
JR: What’s like? What’s an artist or song that you listen to currently? Like your favorite?
JY: I like Little Wayne. I don’t know if you guys listen to Lil Wayne, “The block is hot.”
JR: And why would you say, Why would you say you like the music?
JY: His specific music? Because he’s been out for a while. In my younger days, he was everyone’s favorite, and to this day or so, I listen to some of his music.
JR: What about do you have, like a favorite song from him, or like any song,
JY: Fireman
JR: By?
JY: Lil Wayne.
JR: Where do you see yourself in like, 10-20, years?
JY: Hopefully on a ranch with three, four kids, owning a horse, pig, maybe a couple chickens and roosters, and me and my wife retired, just enjoying our days on a piece of land.
JR: Why? Why, like the cowboy route?
JY: I’ve lived in the city my entire life, and I wouldn’t say I’m tired of it, but I think later down the line, I picture something different.
JR: And what would the ideal place for you to start your farmland be?
JY: Maybe Utah, Colorado, somewhere up there, not too far down, south or too far east.
JR: What song, movie or like show would you say like represents your life currently?
JY: Rocky because I’m currently fighting for my life. Trying to make it out, trying to be rich and successful.
JR: Well, I think that’s, that’s, that’s all the stuff I got, that’s all the stuff I can pull out of my brain. So I guess that’s it. Okay, say bye.
JY: Bye.
JR: Bye.
