Watching Yara Shahidi’s Day Off is an entertaining and informative way for viewers to learn about the activities in her celebrity friends’ lives. For those who missed it, last week’s episode of Yara Shahidi’s Day Off, presented by actress, scholar, and passionate music nerd Yara Shahidi, is now available on Facebook Watch. This episode features two-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim, who speaks about her heritage, identity, and how she discovered her passions and hobbies.
The discussion begins with Yara congratulating Chloe on her second gold medal and asking how she became a snowboarder.
“It was so random. Born and raised in Southern California. And when you think Southern California, you don’t think snow,” said Chloe. “Absolutely, right. My dad actually really wanted to try getting into snow sports just for fun. He took me snowboarding one day. I started when I was four. And I probably threw a lot of temper tantrums because I was cold. And I was falling a lot. You know?”
Kim emphasized that the experience was somewhat inconvenient since she was only four years old. Despite this, she started to enjoy snowboarding at the age of five or six, not only because of the experience but also because it allowed her to connect with her father.
“I’m really grateful for that,” said Kim. “We have such a great relationship, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we had a shared activity that we did together very frequently.”
A Conversation Between Yara Shandi and Chloe Kim Regarding Traditions, Family, and Sense of Self
As they move on to the next topic, Chloe and Yara discuss identity, family, and traditions. As Shahidi begins her statement, she asserts her desire to explore and connect with her Iranian and Black heritage. Following that, she asks Chloe if she has had a similar experience or if she has a family tradition or moment that is particularly meaningful to her.
“So, growing up, I kind of had a bit of an identity crisis. Because being first-gen Korean-American, I would wake up in a very Korean environment,” Chloe explained. “And the minute I walked out the door, it was very American.”
Moreover, Kim sometimes felt out of place. However, she has learned to embrace her American roots, including celebrating Thanksgiving as part of her American heritage. At 14, the snowboarder decided to participate in the holiday celebrations. Even though both her parents enjoyed the different holidays and traditions, they wanted their daughter to feel as though she was experiencing somehow, shape, or form, and had something to discuss with her friends.
“But I mean, I love my Korean heritage. I love the food and the culture. Everything is so beautiful,” said Kim. “I think my favorite– my mom makes me seaweed soup on my birthday, and it’s my favorite food in the world.”
The world in which we live is characterized by a great deal of curiosity about the traditions of other cultures. It is an inherent characteristic of human nature.
Trying New Things
Further, into the delightful conversation, Yara mentioned some of Kim’s interests, such as her love of animals and golf. Following this, Chloe is asked whether she believes “there’s a through line in how you develop certain interests? Or why do you feel like you’re so down to experience new things all the time?”
“Snowboarding brings me a lot of joy. But I started snowboarding when I was four, and I started taking it more seriously when I was seven.” However, Chloe was “committed by the age of seven.”
Due to this, she felt as though she had missed out on some of her childhood. However, now that she is an adult with more time on her hands, she is open to trying all of these things that she might not have been able to try without committing to snowboarding at an early age.
It has been a fascinating journey for Chloe, as her interests have led her down many different paths. Because of this, Yara had to inquire about her intentions regarding not only going to school but also to a prestigious school like Princeton.
“I’d just never really had a normal schooling experience. And watching all these movies and shows about prom and, I don’t know, going on field trips, things like that,” Chloe explained. “But I wanted to let myself have that moment where I kind of felt this sense of normalcy and went to school, lived in the dorm. And I really needed it.”
Expansion of Chloe’s Horizons
Furthermore, she asserts that meeting people not affiliated with snowboarding was refreshing since snowboarding is a bit like a bubble. At first, the Southern California native was unaware of how giant the bubble was until she stepped outside of it and encountered new individuals.
“How do you feel like that shaped you, then, going back into the sport?” Yara Shahidi asked.
Kim expressed that she found the most valuable lesson to be reassuring herself that she has a variety of activities to choose from. “I knew that if this didn’t work out, if I decided I didn’t want to snowboard anymore, I didn’t have to worry because there was always something out there for me. And I could achieve that.”
Fortunately, Shahidi made a compelling point by stating that people may view Chloe as young and successful. However, they may not realize the importance and excitement of immersing themselves in new environments. This is particularly true after spending time and energy learning about a particular field.
“Totally. I think my closest friends from school actually didn’t really know who I was. And that was really refreshing, too, because when people meet me, they’re like, ‘Oh, my god, you’re so chill.’ I’m like, why?” Kim said.
She contends that simply because she has accomplished things and is good at something does not imply that she is not like a regular person. In addition, Kim states that people tend to overlook that we are human beings. This response from Chloe was spot on. Celebrities are idolized by many people, forgetting that they are still ordinary individuals, just wealthy and famous.
Yara Believes Kim Is An Inspirational Figure For Young Women and Girls
Throughout history, there have been many notable female figures who have inspired and influenced women and girls. According to Yara, Chloe is one of those women.
“I genuinely just do what I love. And it just worked out for me in that way, where I was able to have this platform and have the opportunity to inspire other young women. And I’m honored,” said Kim.
The sport of snowboarding appears to be both challenging and enjoyable. For the sake of curiosity, Yara asked Chloe, “what do you find absolutely fun about snowboarding each time?”
One of the things she enjoys most is pushing herself and proving to herself that she can accomplish things that initially seem impossible. She finds that accomplishing those things is even more rewarding than anything else she has ever achieved.
Tips
As a final question, Shahidi asked Chloe for “any personal tips” on overcoming frustration, pushing past the initial obstacle to embracing the experience.
“Yeah. I’m very dramatic and extreme. So sometimes, in snowboarding, for example, it gets to a point where I’ll be trying a trick, and I just can’t get it to save my life. And I’m so extreme, I’m like, ‘I don’t care if I hurt myself. I’m just going to go do it.’ And just that pushes me past that point, and I’m able to do it,” she exclaimed. “And, of course, I care if I hurt myself. That’d be so inconvenient. But just mentally, I have to get in this I-don’t-care-about-anything state to get there.”
Later, they head to the golf course, where Chloe teaches Yara the fundamentals of the game. Her inexperience with the sport led to her missing a few game scores. While there, Yara was able to learn, have fun, and gain a thorough insight into the sport of golf and snowboarding from Chloe.
Be sure to catch Yara Shahidi’s Day Off every Thursday at 9 am PT/12 pm ET on Facebook Watch , and Instagram.
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Written by Nikiya Biggs | Instagram: @competent_journalist | Twitter: @BiggsNikiya
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