By Cassandra

“On this land, every storm we suffer is a cry across the ocean, the sound of Asian Americans’ desire to be understood.” These lines from my poem “Under One Sky” reflect the Asian American struggle and longing for understanding. I am a high school girl who didn't grow up in the U.S., but in another country, and arrived at age 15 to attend school here. The more I have witnessed and experienced in the U.S. from an outsider’s perspective, the deeper my understanding has grown. Three years of life here have reshaped my view of the world—of good and bad, ideals and reality, success and failure—and have given me insights into the Asian American experience.

My mom always tells me that I should go out and make more friends, and I always nod because I believe that my efforts will go well and be successful. However, the reality is that when I first came to the U.S., I felt uncomfortable in many ways. The English I learned in my home country wasn’t enough to support me fully here, and my limited knowledge of American culture made it even harder to connect with others. I felt like an outsider at school. Communication was difficult; I never knew for sure whether I had said the right thing or was being understood properly.

As I had time to observe and adapt to my new environment, I began to realize that I wasn't the only one who felt alienated in American society—even Asian Americans who were born here often feel that way. It is a challenging thing to balance one’s family heritage with the expectations of mainstream American society, just as I have struggled to adapt to life in a new country and culture while holding onto my own. “Where are you originally from?” “Do you speak Chinese?” Many Asian Americans are asked questions like these frequently. These questions show that people often assume that Asian Americans’ identity is defined by their cultural heritage, and that they often judge individuals based on their race rather than seeing them as Americans. While some people have difficulty understanding why questions like these can be offensive, they highlight the identity conflict faced by Asian Americans and can cause feelings of isolation and segregation. Even when they come from innocent curiosity or a desire to understand and build connections, they can still create a feeling of alienation, of not belonging to mainstream American society.

Fortunately, progress has been made. In recent years, Asian American representation in both the media and in politics is increasing. Asian American voices are louder, their faces are more often seen, and they are in positions of influence and leadership. This presence gives them a chance to tell their stories, and it increases awareness of their diverse cultures and unique experiences. Many Asian Americans are making important and visible contributions to the fields of art, engineering, medicine, education, and much more. However, racism and feelings of alienation haven’t disappeared. Many Asian Americans are still facing difficulties caused by stereotypes, attitudes toward immigrants, and cultural differences. It is critical to maintain the progress that has been made and keep moving forward. We must understand the reality of the Asian American experience. And we must continue to speak up about the injustices that we witness and experience.