Navigating Life With Cerebral Palsy-Yehee

Quick Overview

Yehee, a 30-year-old from Houston, Texas, who has cerebral palsy, shares her journey of navigating life, including moving from South Korea to the US after 9/11, facing bullying in school, and finding joy and purpose in comedy and sharing her story, despite early fears of deportation.

Key Points: Yehee is 30 years old and currently lives in Houston, Texas. She moved from South Korea to the US in 2002, after 9/11, and initially attended a special education school in Korea. She experienced significant bullying in school, including having erasers thrown at her, but excelled academically, learning multiplication tables by age four. Her father, who had a Master's degree in botany and horticulture, left when she was 16, leading to a difficult period where she feared deportation. Yehee now works as an online math teacher and pursues stand-up comedy, citing Bobbi Lee and Andrew Santino as inspirations. She recently became a US citizen in late 2023 and is grateful for the opportunities she now has.

Context: This video is an interview segment from the 'Soft White Underbelly' series, featuring Yehee, a 30-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, discussing her life experiences navigating cerebral palsy, immigration, and finding her voice through comedy.

Detailed Analysis

Yehee, 30, from Houston, Texas, recounts her life journey, which began in South Korea. She moved to the US in 2002 after 9/11. In Korea, she attended a special education school where she was bullied, with children throwing objects like erasers at her. Despite this, she was academically bright, learning multiplication tables up to 144 by age four. Her father, who held a Master's in botany and horticulture, left when she was 16, which caused her to fear deportation and made her realize that her safety was not guaranteed. She also recounts witnessing domestic violence against her mother during her childhood. Despite these hardships, she was able to go to college and eventually got her US citizenship in late 2023. She currently works as an online math teacher and performs stand-up comedy, inspired by comedians like Bobbi Lee and Andrew Santino. She finds that comedy is a great way to motivate others and share her perspective, especially since many people she interacts with (like those on her father's plane or at the airport) don't realize she is undocumented or has cerebral palsy. She notes that her father also had leg braces, similar to her own mobility aids, which he used while working in landscaping. Yehee emphasizes that she is now happy and grateful for her opportunities, including being able to tell her story.