When she heard the news of her daughter's disappearance in early November, Bansoon Song came to State College, thousands of miles away from her home in Korea, with only one wish. The wish -- the safe return of her daughter, missing Penn State student Cindy Song.
Her wish has yet to be granted.
She has waited in hope. She has been in a country unfamiliar to her and listened to a language she cannot understand. She has shed more tears than one can imagine. She hasn't seen her daughter in more than six months.
And after months of anguish and fear, Bansoon Song is leaving State College to spend the summer in Virginia with her cousin.
Before going to Virginia, she will head to Harrisburg to submit the more than 13,000- signature petition to Gov. Mark Schweiker for Pennsylvania State Police help in finding her daughter.
Hope is the theme of the campaign to find the 22-year-old woman, and Bansoon Song just hopes she will not have to return in the Fall Semester. That faith stems from a wish that Cindy Song will be found before then.
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"Cindy's not just a foreign student, she's a member of the Penn State community and I am so grateful to everyone for taking the time to help," Bansoon Song said through translator Eun Ji Byun (sophomore-sociology).
Kevin Choi, president of the Korean Student Association said, "Just have hope and the will to find her. We found there is great hope from the students. They have a lot of concerns."
Choi and Bansoon Song wanted to express their gratefulness toward the students at Penn State, the university and the community as a whole.
The petition gathered thousands of signatures thus far and volunteers will continue to collect until Friday.
After coming to State College months ago alone, Bansoon Song felt hopeless.
"When she realized there are people who support her and that helped her and it gave her strength," said Byun, who was involved in the petition drive. "She's grateful that so many have put their hearts and hope in it."
It is that community support which has given her the courage to remain hopeful.
The mother of the woman who has been missing since the early morning hours of Nov. 1, has received about 50 letters and cards from concerned students and community members.
Drawings by young children have also been given to her. One specific drawing featured a little girl playing a violin on the front with a tree next to her. On the other side of the paper was the back of the tree and Cindy Song behind it. Byun said the drawing reflected the idea that Cindy Song is close to being found.
Bansoon Song, with tears in her eyes, said, "pray for her."
