Name: Kim Chungha
Nickname: Chungha, Annie
Band/Solo: Solo
Journal: eightcount
Twitter: bodywaving
Age: 21
Year: Incoming senior
Sorority: Kappa Phi Lambda
Major: Dance Performance
Clubs/Sports: Dance Club
Jobs: Hana Square Fitness, Dance instructor at an off-campus studio

BIO:
An only child, Chungha was raised by a single mother; her father had up and left them when she was young, and as a result, money had always been tight. Determined to provide for her daughter and to prove that she could be an adequate parent on her own, her mother worked multiple jobs, and always stressed a strong work ethic to her young daughter.

However, staying in Seoul proved to take an emotional toll on Chungha’s mother. Recognizing her sister’s struggles, Chungha’s aunt managed to convince her sister that maybe moving to the United States, where she lived, could be a good change of pace. It didn’t take much coaxing for her to agree to uproot their lives to start fresh in Dallas, Texas.

They were able to live a relatively comfortable life in Dallas for eight years, until Chungha’s grandmother grew ill, requiring more care. Always one to put family first, Chungha’s mother didn’t hesitate to make another big move in her life; enough time had passed for her emotional wounds to heal, and she was ready to return home to Seoul with Chungha.

It was back in Seoul that Chungha first discovered her love for dance; Chungha’s mother had initially enrolled her in after school dance classes so that she would have a hobby to occupy her time while she worked late. Despite starting dance lessons relatively late compared to most students, Chungha proved to be a natural in the art. It was through dance that Chungha realized what it was to be truly passionate about something.

But things weren’t always easy. Responsible for the care of her elderly parents as well as herself and Chungha, Chungha’s mother had to face the harsh reality that money was now tighter than ever. Initially, she tried to explain to Chungha that dance lessons were something they wouldn’t be able to afford much longer— but Chungha begged her mother to let her keep going to lessons, putting up a fierce argument that she had a true talent for it and that it could really take her places in the future. She even offered to take up part time work to help pay for classes. And this was how Chungha began her string of part time jobs; throughout the years, she worked as a cashier at a fried chicken restaurant, as a dog groomer at a pet store, and as an English tutor. Currently, she works as a dance instructor at a dance studio not too far from campus, as well as a position at Hana Square Fitness.

In the end, it seemed like those dance lessons did pay off; Chungha was offered a full scholarship to KU. While she was proud of herself for being able to accomplish such a feat, the biggest reward was the fact that her mother wouldn’t have to worry about struggling to pay for her tuition to attend such a prestigious school.

FACTS:
• It’s a running joke that Chungha has a split personality, with how different she acts when performing versus her every day life. Though she’s known for her overwhelming charisma and pointed expressions on stage, she’s a bit shy and even cute off stage (even if she’s insistent that she’s not a very cute kind of person).

• Chungha is level headed and patient, having adopted rather mother-like tendencies from how much she takes after her own mother. She’s the one that people can count on for advice, for help with dance practice or homework, and the kind of person who stays late after a party just to help clean up— no matter how many drinks she’s had.

• For most of her younger life, Chungha was convinced that she had a streak of bad luck. Things never seemed to work in her favor, or she would always seem to come up short; always second or third place, always missing opportunities, always rejected. Her scholarship to KU seems to be the turning point of her luck, and she’s optimistic that maybe things are finally looking up for both her and her family.

• Spent 2nd to 9th grade in Dallas, Texas, returning to Seoul as a sophomore in high school.

• Chungha always found herself more comfortable with her female friends-- she figured it was a natural bond between women, how much more she preferred the kinship of other girls who seemed to understand her and didn't mind her affectionate ways. It was part of the reason why she decided to rush and eventually was invited to join Kappa Phi Lambda, always finding the sisterhood between girls to be a comfortable and safe place.

• And while she had a few relationship with males, she found herself growing more and more curious about females. Was it just a product of being surrounding by beautiful girls on a daily basis? Or was it something more? Not that males don't make her flustered all the same. College is confusing, she decides.