AAPI Heritage Month From the Perspective of a College Student

Many Chinese immigrants come to America to pursue the American Dream—a better life for themselves, and for their children, whom they hope to send to college. Not all succeed, of course, but even those who do are now finding that dream clouded by discrimination and acts of violence against AAPI people. This is true in the case of one Chinese-American student from SUNY Cortland, who agreed to answer a few questions, but would like to remain anonymous. 

“My mother immigrated to New York from China when she was 22. She left her husband and my older sister there in order to start her own business here in New York. She opened up a restaurant and has been very successful.”

There were times when things looked bleak and even once when the business looked like it might have gone under due to understaffing. Her mother, although hoping to bring the rest of the family over to the United States, could not afford it for a long time. 

“They spent over two years living in opposite corners of the world, only visiting each other once in a blue moon. It was difficult, but there was no other way.”

Eventually, both husband and daughter were able to join her in her small Manhattan apartment. Her husband helped her in running the restaurant, and their daughter worked a small job, as well.

“Many years later, they realized they were having me. I wasn’t exactly expected, but they tell me I was a blessing just the same. I was lucky to grow up at a time when they pretty much had everything figured out. We lived simply, but it was enough for everyone.”

They made sure to keep deep ties to their Chinese culture. 

“I’ve been to China twice, both for long periods of time. It’s definitely helped me keep in touch with my roots, but my family does a great job of it, too. We eat traditional food, celebrate the Chinese New Year, and we found a Daoist community that allows us to spend some time getting to know other people who share our faith.”

Given the troubling circumstances currently present in the United States as it relates to discrimination against people of AAPI heritage, she made her stance clear. 

“Daoists are taught to live in harmony. We emphasize togetherness. Hate has no place in our lives, so it saddens me and my family to see what people like us are experiencing. We’ve been lucky, though, because we haven’t been the victims of any of these horrible acts, but I still live in fear every time my mom tells me she’s going to the market. It’s not a way to live.”

However, her faith gives her hope that things will improve.

“I believe in the goodness of humanity. I believe and my family believes, especially my mother, that people are good at heart, and that’s the hope we have that this will turn around. And if it’s true that some of these people who commit these crimes don’t care about who they’re hurting, there are other good people to stop it. We are fortified by the strength of our community, and no matter how scared I may be sometimes, especially walking around the streets of Manhattan, I know I’m proud to be who I am. I have my parents to thank for that.”