by Shayndel Jim What does it mean to be Asian? What does it mean to be Canadian? Throughout my life, I’ve asked myself the latter far more than the first one. I first started asking it when at the age of 5, my teacher told my parents I would never be good enough at English to succeed in this country. I asked myself that question when I lied when I had to track my food for health class, noting down sandwiches and pasta because I was embarrassed by the ethnic food my parents made. I worked hard in school to prove those who said I wouldn’t succeed that they were wrong, but I found myself falling into the stereotype of being an Asian who did well in school and the question echoed in my head as if it were a constant reminder that I would never truly be Canadian. As I grew older, I started asking myself what it meant to be Asian. I asked myself this when I say that I’ve faced discrimination as an Asian, but I’m corrected and told I’m not ‘that type of Asian’. I asked myself this question when I couldn’t fluently speak my mother tongue because I refused to learn it in a futile attempt to be ‘more’ Canadian. I asked myself this when I couldn’t pin a sari without my mother’s help or when I clumsily tried to piece together sentences when the words wouldn’t match up in my head because it was too busy jumping between languages. This Asian Heritage Month, I hope we are able to focus not just on celebrating our culture, but also in supporting each other. By leaning on each other and pushing through, we will be able to overcome the adversity we face daily. I still can’t answer the questions about what it means to be Canadian and what it means to be Asian. I spent most of my life trying to fit into one or another, completely ignoring the intersectionality of my life. I may have been raised in this country, but I will never understand what it means to be a white person. Similarly, I will never understand what it is like to be someone who was born and brought up in Asia. But I do understand what it is like to be an Asian who was raised in Canada. I know what it’s like to have expectations prematurely placed on me based on stereotypes, but I also know what it’s like to surprise people and act in a way they did not expect. I know what it’s like to be discriminated against for the way I look, but I also know what it’s like to be appreciated for my features. While our experiences may not be the same, I understand what it means to be discriminated against for being Asian and I know the support I would have wanted, which I choose to provide for others now. I may not have a concrete answer of what it means to be Canadian or Asian, but I do know what my responsibility is. While our parents and elders are meant to protect us, there comes a time when we have to protect them, too. For some it may start early, with dealing with customer service staff or translating important documents. For others it comes much later, such as now. We must use our voices to shield those who cannot defend themselves. We must weaponize our English to spread news about what is going on and how we can help. There is so much pain nowadays, with some Asians being killed for a misconception of a virus and other Asians can’t even breathe because there isn’t enough oxygen available. Life has equipped many of us to protect and support them in a way they can’t themselves, so we need to use our voices and resources to not just educate others so they are more aware of what is going on, but to try and change the hatred some people hold in their hearts. Non-Asian people have this responsibility too, to understand their privilege to be able to speak up and voice their concerns to help us in a way that we can’t reach alone. There will be some resources listed below to donate and educate yourself further, please check them out and I wish everyone a safe and happy Asian Heritage Month. - Shayndel Shayndel is an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph. Do you have a story or topic you'd like to write about and share with Psychology students? Make sure you fill out our submission form and send it back to us by email so we can showcase your ideas!
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