Zoe W., Om V. - TSA 2024 - Audio Podcasting Nationals

The podcast discusses the experiences and challenges of Asian-Americans in embracing their ethnic identity. They talk about scenarios like feeling embarrassed about their authentic food in the lunchroom and dealing with stereotypes about being good at math. They also discuss the pressure to assimilate and the importance of embracing one's uniqueness. The final topic is about correcting parents' language, and the importance of not judging within one's own culture. The main message is that being Asian-American should not restrict one's identity, and they should focus on their own happiness and goals. Hey everyone! Welcome to AI, where Asians and Indians stand together. We will discuss cultural norms and coach the new generation of Asian-Americans to feel more comfortable with their ethnic identity. Disclaimer, this title is for witty purposes only. We know Indians are Asian. I'm Zoe Wong, and I'm an ABC, American Born Chinese. And I'm Umzaghessan, an ABCD, American Born Confused Asian. Zoe and I are second generation immigrants, and today we are talking about an important topic. What does it mean to be Asian-American? I think all Asian-Americans have had fairly similar life experiences. We'll be talking about the most common scenarios and problems as well as how to overcome them. The first scenario, the lunchroom. Um, I need to ask about your experiences in the lunchroom. I don't mean the typical I don't know where to sit story, I mean the unpacking and eating of the food. I mean we've all been there, opening our lunch boxes and revealing a heavy aroma of the authentic food the entirety of the cafeteria. Right, and I'm ashamed to say that I even used to feel a little embarrassed about how different and noticeable my food was. Don't get me wrong, the food is delicious. It's just a little different and tends to raise a few eyebrows. One piece of advice I would give students struggling to fit in nearly because of what is in their lunch box is that it's normal to feel embarrassed about things that others find different. Really, it all depends on the person. If you're someone who doesn't mind people throwing questioning glances your way, just enjoy your food and be proud of your heritage. You may receive stares and a couple of upturned noses here and there, but if you love your food, don't let them bother you and focus on yourself. You're enjoying the food that you like, what's so wrong about that? Exactly. It's funny how we tend to think people judge us way more than they actually do. However, we know this is a best case scenario, so if the tension does bother you, you can always agree with others that bring ethnic foods as well. That way, it doesn't feel like all the idea is The second scenario, common stereotypes. Math. As someone who's not an academic weapon at math, shocking, I know, and doesn't really enjoy it, in most of my math classes, I felt out of place. I've received plenty of strange looks whenever I score on the lower side of a math test or when I answer a question wrong. I know, right? Like, just because I'm Chinese doesn't make me an all-knowing genius. In fact, I enjoy sports a lot more than academics. When others learn that I have bent and play lacrosse instead of doing swimming, taekwondo, or tennis, I always seem so surprised and a little confused, as if to say, aren't you staying in your area? Yeah, after the last 15 years of being alive, I realize that it's common for people to jump to random conclusions before they really get the chance to know you, but I suppose that's just human nature. The biggest and most common stereotype the world seems to hold is about our intelligence. It's crucial to recognize that intelligence is diverse and comes in many forms, and as previously mentioned, being Asian doesn't automatically make you a genius. Don't let others define your capabilities based on stereotypes. You don't have to be a math whiz just because of how you look. Breaking free from these expectations starts with embracing your uniqueness. Embrace your individuality, pursue your passions, showcase your talents, and don't be afraid to challenge your stereotypes. Last scenario, home life. There is a lot of things that we can talk about on this topic, but we'll just focus on parents, which still doesn't shorten the topic by much. So, instead of talking about how we've been injustice, we'll be discussing something a little more serious and something that I wish could be forever buried in my history. Nonetheless, it is definitely something that needs to be talked about as a change of F.A.M. When I was younger, around the third grade, I started noticing how different my parents were from the other people around us, especially the way they spoke. It was at that time when I started, like many first-generation immigrants, to correct my parents' speaking. Yeah, not a good time for me, or anyone for that matter. And looking back on it now, I realize that it was really rude, especially when my parents were clearly trying their best to adapt to a new country, culture, language. Just thinking about it is embarrassing. Yeah, I feel you. I think for me, it was around fifth grade when I started doing that. I even felt embarrassed about my culture at the time. In junior middle school, I just wanted to blend in, to fit in. But it seemed to me that those were the things getting in my way, and I would take it out with all the frustration on my parents at home. I knew it was unfair, but I was so bothered by how nobody was looking past my ethnicity. It's important to understand that being different is not a bad thing. However, judging is. We need to start with not judging within our own homes and ethnicity, before trying to change others' unconscious biases and stereotypes about us. Do what you can for yourself, and focus on yourself. These are the main themes of all the problem-solving ideas we've talked about in this first episode. So, what does it mean to be Asian American? To be Asian American means nothing. You shouldn't feel restricted by your ethnicity or culture to be who you are. We don't mean that you should disregard your culture, but you shouldn't let it dictate your life and choices, or make you feel inadequate. Remember, you have to focus on yourself, your happiness, and your goals. Being Asian American is not a flaw. You need to own it. Goodbye, everyone. See you all next time. Keep your cultural GPS on, and navigate with pride. This was AI.