Jody's Story

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Jody Melissa Rubin

presented at "Raising International Children in the Jewish Community" May 9, 1995 - Stars of David/Chicago

I now answer to the name Jody Melissa Rubin. Just from the sound of my name, unless you have some psychic powers, you don't know if my hair is brunette or blonde, or if my eyes are blue or brown. Just from the sound of my name, it is safe to assume that I am a typical American Jewish girl, but to most people's surprise, this is not the case. A long time ago I responded to the name Kang Hye Won. Kang Hye Won is more fitting for my exterior appearance than Jody Melissa Rubin, but Jody Melissa Rubin is who I am.
I was fifteen days old when my birth parents abandoned me on the doorsteps of a police station in Seoul, South Korea. I then lived in an orphanage before Howard and Abby Rubin adopted me and welcomed me into their family with open arms. That is when I began my life as Jody Melissa Rubin. I didn't leave Kang Hye Won in Korea, but I never got the chance to discover what she was about because I was too young to understand. I have always known that I was adopted, but for many years I thought little about my actual background. It rarely dawned on me that I was anything but Jody Melissa Rubin, born and bred in America. As I have grown, I've come to realize, I was not born in America and I am very much different from the majority of Americans. I am an adopted Jewish Korean.
I do not have the power to change being adopted and being a minority, nor do I want to. Yet, that is not how I always thought. Why my birth parents abandoned me has recently been a question that I have felt sorrow and confusion toward because it is an unknown, but I have come to terms with the fact that I might never get an answer. So rather than dwelling on the negative side of my background, I focus on the positive aspects.
My belief is that when I was abandoned, I was not unwanted or unloved by my birth parents. They were seeking a better life for me than they were able to provide and I can proudly say that they have succeeded. I was brought into a life where food and shelter are provided. I am able to receive an exceptional education and most importantly, I am loved by people around me. My efforts to understand myself better have helped me to recognize the struggle that many other people go through.
I have accepted the fact that I am different and this has not discouraged me from leading a conventional teenager's life. I've found a group of friends that I have fun with, I have the usual boy problems that teenagers have, and I got to high school so that one day I will be able to go to college and begin the transition to adulthood.
The shape of my eyes has defined my heritage; while the environment that surrounds me has defined my personality. I am adopted, I am Jewish, I am Asian, I am an American, I am Kang Hye Won and I am Jody Melissa Rubin.
(This college essay was reprinted with the express permission of Jody Melissa Rubin.)

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This page updated April 4, 2003 12:06 PM
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Update your contact information! Contact Us How to Help Us		Jody Melissa Rubin presented at "Raising International Children in the Jewish Community" May 9, 1995 - Stars of David/Chicago I now answer to the name Jody Melissa Rubin. Just from the sound of my name, unless you have some psychic powers, you don't know if my hair is brunette or blonde, or if my eyes are blue or brown. Just from the sound of my name, it is safe to assume that I am a typical American Jewish girl, but to most people's surprise, this is not the case. A long time ago I responded to the name Kang Hye Won. Kang Hye Won is more fitting for my exterior appearance than Jody Melissa Rubin, but Jody Melissa Rubin is who I am. I was fifteen days old when my birth parents abandoned me on the doorsteps of a police station in Seoul, South Korea. I then lived in an orphanage before Howard and Abby Rubin adopted me and welcomed me into their family with open arms. That is when I began my life as Jody Melissa Rubin. I didn't leave Kang Hye Won in Korea, but I never got the chance to discover what she was about because I was too young to understand. I have always known that I was adopted, but for many years I thought little about my actual background. It rarely dawned on me that I was anything but Jody Melissa Rubin, born and bred in America. As I have grown, I've come to realize, I was not born in America and I am very much different from the majority of Americans. I am an adopted Jewish Korean. I do not have the power to change being adopted and being a minority, nor do I want to. Yet, that is not how I always thought. Why my birth parents abandoned me has recently been a question that I have felt sorrow and confusion toward because it is an unknown, but I have come to terms with the fact that I might never get an answer. So rather than dwelling on the negative side of my background, I focus on the positive aspects. My belief is that when I was abandoned, I was not unwanted or unloved by my birth parents. They were seeking a better life for me than they were able to provide and I can proudly say that they have succeeded. I was brought into a life where food and shelter are provided. I am able to receive an exceptional education and most importantly, I am loved by people around me. My efforts to understand myself better have helped me to recognize the struggle that many other people go through. I have accepted the fact that I am different and this has not discouraged me from leading a conventional teenager's life. I've found a group of friends that I have fun with, I have the usual boy problems that teenagers have, and I got to high school so that one day I will be able to go to college and begin the transition to adulthood. The shape of my eyes has defined my heritage; while the environment that surrounds me has defined my personality. I am adopted, I am Jewish, I am Asian, I am an American, I am Kang Hye Won and I am Jody Melissa Rubin. (This college essay was reprinted with the express permission of Jody Melissa Rubin.) Return to Articles & Books on Jewish Adoption Return to Stars of David Home Page


		main \| membership \| chapters \| news \| events \| articles&books \| adoption resources \| staff members \| newsletter \| newsletter archives \| disclaimer Stars of David International, Inc. \| 3175 Commercial Avenue, Suite 100 \| Northbrook IL 60062-1915 Hotline: 1-800-STAR-349 \| E-mail This page updated April 4, 2003 12:06 PM Website Content & Design © 2002 Stars of David International, Inc. & Samuel Moore ™ Desert Solutions All Rights Reserved.