It's An Asian Thing: Guest Blogger #1: Joanna
Hello, my name is Joanna Tso and I am an Asian-American living in Connecticut. Being an Asian-American is an awesome feeling and a privileged circumstance. Of course, being an Asian living in an American society does have its advantages and disadvantages. For example, being Asian sets you apart from other ethnic groups and you feel special in your own cultural way. Being different is a unique attribute and not being ashamed of it is very important. Although, many people today make fun of how my Asian colleagues speak, it doesn't bother me a bit because it takes a lot of courage for one to learn to speak an entirely new language. The reason why most Asians even move to the US is for better life opportunity and for many, they feel like they have achieved their dream and they are living in the new world. On the other hand, by being an Asian-American, I am able to speak two languages fluently. My first language is Cantonese which is a dialect of the Chinese language. Secondly, I can speak English very well which I learned in Kindergarten and from my older sisters. Although I was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Connecticut at a very young age, I still feel like I have embraced both the Asian and American culture, and that is the most rewarding feeling of all.
Guest Blogger #2: Lynn
As an Asian-American, I often get judged by the typical Asian stereotypes in school. It’s already pre-expected that I should excel in classes such as math and science, which ironic because those two classes really are my favorite subjects. Chances are, you would most likely catch me carrying an AP Biology book and a heavy backpack wherever I go. However, my two classes that I have most interest in are actually the classes that I struggle most with. With that being said, I can easily break the “Asians-being-so-good-in-math-and-science” stereotype. But what is even more ironic is that I really do feel like a “typical” Asian. Asians are industrious, multi-talented, and (will be) successful in their lives. Asians tend to push themselves more, which is where the “nerdy” look started developing. As for myself, I am currently taking 4 AP classes in my senior year, the year where everything was supposedly “less stressful” and more fun. Talk about overachieving. In addition, Asians are not only stuffing their noses into books, there’s a good possibility that a majority of them are musically gifted. My parents put me in violin lessons starting in 3rd grade, the flute in 4th, and lastly the piano in 5th. To this day, I still keep in touch with all the instruments I play, which made me feel confident in my decision of minoring in Music Theory & Composition in college. On that note, I plan on majoring in Pre-Medicine Studies and becoming a successful doctor in the near future. Now that’s typical. I enjoy my hectic Asian-American life. I like telling myself that I’m unique and that I stand out from others. For starters, I’m 4’11.25’’. Apparently, everyone thinks I would be quiet and shy. I’m exactly the opposite much to everyone’s surprise. I’ve tried starting to count how many people who said exactly this: “You’re really loud for a small person.” For the record, I’ve stopped counting. I also stay active by playing sports instead of going home and doing homework as anticipated. Being on a Varsity Swimming&Diving and Tennis team builds up more character and reputation for myself. It’s not advised or encouraged that a person should be judged by their stereotypes of their background or by their looks. Just a tip, be careful with what you think, because that often leads to what you say. Take time to actually get to know the person; there’s so much more to what’s just on the surface.
Guest Blogger #3: Indira
Q: What is your name? (First name is fine)My friends call me DeeQ: Where are your parents from?My parents grew up in Southern India, in Tamil Nadu. My father came to the states for graduate school and when he married my mom in India, she came along with him.Q: What was your upbringing like? Do you think your background was a significant influence in your upbringing?I was raised in a loving Indian household, and many of the morals and values I hold originate from Indian culture and tradition. However, around the time of middle and high school, I became increasingly aware that I was straddling two different worlds in a sense. At home my family was very traditional, but at school, I wanted to be like the average American and fit in with my peers. It wasn’t until late high school and college when I found my balance as an Asian American growing up in what was a predominantly white American community. Currently I am proud of my Indian roots and have found a comfortable way to incorporate my culture into an American lifestyle.Q: Where did you grow up? Were there other Asian students when you were going to school?I attended my town’s public school system which was primarily white middle-class students. I had no Indian friends, but there were a few East Asian students in my class. Most of my friends were white, but I never felt uncomfortable being a minority. If anything, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I am surrounded by other Asians because of the pressure to be knowledgeable about my Asian roots when I consider myself to be very americanized.Q: Did you ever experience racism? If so, was it more common in your youth or as an adult?I believe bias-related incidents are prominent in our society, but not always clearly noticeable. It is something that only time and knowledge can change. I feel lucky in that I have not been subjected to any harmful acts of racism, and that any targeted acts towards me were few and far between. Q: Overall, how do you think that the reception towards Asian Americans has evolved?I believe that as time goes on, Asian Americans are becoming more accepted in our society. We are a growing population in America and with time, America will truly become a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. The stereotypes that follow Asians are still extremely prominent, but then again it is human nature to categorize individuals.Q: How do you think being an Asian American has shaped your life? Was it an advantage or a disadvantage?Growing up I was sometimes ashamed of my cultural background since I never seemed to fit in with the “cool kids.” However, as time went on, different experiences have made me realize the value of my diversity. I love being Asian and the different perspective it gives me. Most of my current friends are plagued with curiosity instead of judgment and are extremely respectful of my beliefs.At the end of the day, I don’t view being Asian American as an advantage or a disadvantage. It’s just different. Everyone is human no matter what background they come from, which means we all need the same basic needs. In the long run, it really doesn’t matter what we look like or the traditions we choose to practice. Whether your family has been living in America for many generations, or you’re fresh off the boat of some foreign country, everyone has something different to bring to the table.
Guest Blogger #2: Lynn
As an Asian-American, I often get judged by the typical Asian stereotypes in school. It’s already pre-expected that I should excel in classes such as math and science, which ironic because those two classes really are my favorite subjects. Chances are, you would most likely catch me carrying an AP Biology book and a heavy backpack wherever I go. However, my two classes that I have most interest in are actually the classes that I struggle most with. With that being said, I can easily break the “Asians-being-so-good-in-math-and-science” stereotype. But what is even more ironic is that I really do feel like a “typical” Asian.
Asians are industrious, multi-talented, and (will be) successful in their lives. Asians tend to push themselves more, which is where the “nerdy” look started developing. As for myself, I am currently taking 4 AP classes in my senior year, the year where everything was supposedly “less stressful” and more fun. Talk about overachieving.
In addition, Asians are not only stuffing their noses into books, there’s a good possibility that a majority of them are musically gifted. My parents put me in violin lessons starting in 3rd grade, the flute in 4th, and lastly the piano in 5th. To this day, I still keep in touch with all the instruments I play, which made me feel confident in my decision of minoring in Music Theory & Composition in college. On that note, I plan on majoring in Pre-Medicine Studies and becoming a successful doctor in the near future. Now that’s typical.
I enjoy my hectic Asian-American life. I like telling myself that I’m unique and that I stand out from others. For starters, I’m 4’11.25’’. Apparently, everyone thinks I would be quiet and shy. I’m exactly the opposite much to everyone’s surprise. I’ve tried starting to count how many people who said exactly this: “You’re really loud for a small person.” For the record, I’ve stopped counting. I also stay active by playing sports instead of going home and doing homework as anticipated. Being on a Varsity Swimming&Diving and Tennis team builds up more character and reputation for myself.
It’s not advised or encouraged that a person should be judged by their stereotypes of their background or by their looks. Just a tip, be careful with what you think, because that often leads to what you say. Take time to actually get to know the person; there’s so much more to what’s just on the surface.
Guest Blogger #3: Indira
Q: What is your name? (First name is fine)
My friends call me Dee
Q: Where are your parents from?
My parents grew up in Southern India, in Tamil Nadu. My father came to the states for graduate school and when he married my mom in India, she came along with him.
Q: What was your upbringing like? Do you think your background was a significant influence in your upbringing?
I was raised in a loving Indian household, and many of the morals and values I hold originate from Indian culture and tradition. However, around the time of middle and high school, I became increasingly aware that I was straddling two different worlds in a sense. At home my family was very traditional, but at school, I wanted to be like the average American and fit in with my peers. It wasn’t until late high school and college when I found my balance as an Asian American growing up in what was a predominantly white American community. Currently I am proud of my Indian roots and have found a comfortable way to incorporate my culture into an American lifestyle.
Q: Where did you grow up? Were there other Asian students when you were going to school?
I attended my town’s public school system which was primarily white middle-class students. I had no Indian friends, but there were a few East Asian students in my class. Most of my friends were white, but I never felt uncomfortable being a minority. If anything, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I am surrounded by other Asians because of the pressure to be knowledgeable about my Asian roots when I consider myself to be very americanized.
Q: Did you ever experience racism? If so, was it more common in your youth or as an adult?
I believe bias-related incidents are prominent in our society, but not always clearly noticeable. It is something that only time and knowledge can change. I feel lucky in that I have not been subjected to any harmful acts of racism, and that any targeted acts towards me were few and far between.
Q: Overall, how do you think that the reception towards Asian Americans has evolved?
I believe that as time goes on, Asian Americans are becoming more accepted in our society. We are a growing population in America and with time, America will truly become a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. The stereotypes that follow Asians are still extremely prominent, but then again it is human nature to categorize individuals.
Q: How do you think being an Asian American has shaped your life? Was it an advantage or a disadvantage?
Growing up I was sometimes ashamed of my cultural background since I never seemed to fit in with the “cool kids.” However, as time went on, different experiences have made me realize the value of my diversity. I love being Asian and the different perspective it gives me. Most of my current friends are plagued with curiosity instead of judgment and are extremely respectful of my beliefs.
At the end of the day, I don’t view being Asian American as an advantage or a disadvantage. It’s just different. Everyone is human no matter what background they come from, which means we all need the same basic needs. In the long run, it really doesn’t matter what we look like or the traditions we choose to practice. Whether your family has been living in America for many generations, or you’re fresh off the boat of some foreign country, everyone has something different to bring to the table.
