Min Jin Lee

And this person said to me, and how did you get to my desk?

And I remember walking out of the job interview, it was like the first job interview that I really had in person to teach writing only because I wanted health insurance.

That was like the primary thing at that moment.

And I just broke down in tears.

Like I was like on the street just sobbing, thinking, oh, I really, really blew it because

I don't earn enough money as a writer, as a book writer to get by.

I don't have health insurance.

I can't care for my family.

My husband has carried me for decades while I wasn't earning, while I was on this quest to be a writer.

And he was willing to put up with the financial, the fact that I wasn't earning.

But then I thought, it's my turn.

And I think it's totally fair to say it's my turn.

It was just so, so humiliating.

So in that sense, reality at some point hits, right, in terms of time and resources.

And I remember that moment

People thinking, oh, my gosh, you must be so happy to be a finalist for the National Book Award.

And obviously I was.

But that job interview, like, I'll never forget it.

I'll never forget how humiliated I was thinking I put myself in this situation.

It's not like I don't have a green card.