Every individual has their own experience growing up and maturing into adulthood. With the controversy surrounding immigration and the bigotry and prejudice against those who are different from the majority (white or white-passing) that is supported and brought in by the Trump administration, I want to celebrate diversity by sharing my own experience growing up as an American with Chinese descent. My experience was enabled by my immigrant parents, who toiled to make the lives of my brother and me more comfortable in America.

1. Getting tired of being asked "Where are you really from?" a billion times

"Virginia."

"Oh no, I meant...where are you really from? Like ages ago...I'm talking your history-"

What do you want me to tell you? Oh, I'm actually African because that's where the first humans originated from? Or should I tell you I'm Caucasian so maybe you would stop asking me? It's the 21st century, you should phrase it better. You want to know my ethnicity? My heritage? Where my parents are from? I'll happily answer, but oh, just because I might have Chinese heritage, I'm not the same as a Chinese person living in China. I'm an American.

2. Experiencing Chinese culture

The food, man. Receiving red envelopes in the New Year. Learning Chinese. Oh did I mention eating good food? I miss real Chinese food now that I am stuck eating in the dining hall because of the meal plan that I was forced to buy upon entering this university.

3. Growing up with chill parents

Unlike having that "tiger mom" or parents that a numerous amount of Asian-American children complain will beat their bottom if they don't get 200% percent on all their tests, my parents were pretty chill and usually were fairly agreeable with me. Disagreements and arguments in families can't be avoided but all-in-all, I'm glad they just let me...be me.

4. Being bilingual

Learning a language isn't just learning a language. You learn the culture, history, and new philosophies. Also, you can curse out people you don't like in another lang- just joking. We never do that. Ever.

5. You might hate your heritage sometimes

Sometimes people judge you for being different. Sometimes there are ignorant and racist people that make you wonder if there is any point to education. It was not the best decision but as a child, I ended up hating my parents' tongue, and was embarrassed to hear them speak their native language, which is perfectly natural, in public. Eventually, though, I realized what other people thought didn't matter.

6. I learned to embrace my heritage

Because at the end of the day, who cares? Who cares if you judge me because of my background or because of how I look? It doesn't matter. What is a part of you will always be a part of you. That's why I learned to love being Chinese-American and love the Chinese language and love the Chinese culture. It's what I inherited from my parents and I don't care about what anybody else thinks.

7. Not seeing people that looked like me on the screen

Not that saying all the other actors and celebrities aren't amazing enough to look up to, but there is something different about seeing someone that looks like you, that grew up with a similar culture or experience as you, in media that is really special. It's...empowering. It's validation. I am just like any other American and what makes me different doesn't necessarily reduce my opportunity to be whoever I want to be.

I don't want to be reduced to a nerd stereotype. I don't to be reduced to that edgy character that fancies white boys . I want to see Asian people in Hollywood, I want to see Asian actors and actresses in complex character roles because they deserve it. Because we deserve it. I want to see more Asian athletes be recognized for their talents and skills...and they finally ARE.

I am SO proud to see so many Olympic athletes of Asian descent be recognized at Pyeongchang. Having role models similar to you, that look like you, is so crucial.

8. I am an American too

This is a silly memory I remember but I remember wearing this shirt with an American flag on it as a kid at this camp and I could hear this college student who was a camp coach whisper, "Aren't only Americans supposed to wear that?"

And it's even more tragic when this person was also a person of color. Yikes. Anyway, looking East-Asian apparently gets you questions like in #1 and people just think you're foreign. I don't want to feel like I'm viewed as foreign in a land that I was born and raised. It makes a kid growing up, unsure of her identity, feel displaced and feel like she doesn't belong. Americans are the people on this land. There can't be any exclusions, especially since the people that established America weren't even the first people there.

So all I say is, let's support diversity and immigration because diversity MAKES this country. America would not be the same without it.