For most of my life I tried to assimilate. I wanted to be American period. I thought being Chinese was something to downplay. As an adult I realized I had been rejecting a fundamental part of myself because I internalized racist messages. At twenty-five I made a decision to reclaim my heritage. I started learning Mandarin properly. I went to family events with genuine interest. I visited China for the first time and felt something I had never felt: a sense of belonging to something larger than myself. I learned that being Asian and being American are not contradictions. They are two parts of one complete identity. Now I am active in my community mentoring young Asian-American professionals.
Understanding My Asian-American Identity
