My family is Filipino, which means I’m Filipino. Right? Yes, but no.

As I said, I’m Filipino, which means I’m Asian, which stereotypically means that I’m a "nerd" or I get straight A’s—that’s not true.

Growing up Filipino in the U.S has defined me to be the stereotypical Asian. This is not me or who I am.

I came here when I was only two-years-old, which means I’ve attended school here my whole life. Since my birthday was only a week before school started, my mom decided to enroll me. Being one of the youngest kids in school, I felt as though I had a lot to live up to.

If I grew up in the Philippines, going to school would be a different story—I would have attended a private catholic school with just girls. I would have learned how to speak Tagalog.

I am a teenage Filipino-American who grew up in an Americanized culture.

Throughout the years, I’ve let both define me, but it’s not who I am—at all.

I am Filipino.

I love being in the Philippines. It’s my other home.

I love Jollibee and I’m not ashamed of it.

I absolutely love when my grandma cooks Filipino food, albeit I don’t always eat it. I love all the classics—pansit, adobo, etc.

My family and I always offer to bring food home when we’re hosting a party cause we can’t eat all that food by ourselves.

When I was younger, you could tell I had a little bit of an accent.

But I’m American.

I love music—I know everyone likes music, but if I didn’t grow up here I wouldn’t have discovered music as quickly if I still lived in the Philippines.

I’m taller than a lot of my family. This one is something that my family and I joke about. When they were younger, they didn’t have milk and they drank coffee instead. Since I came here, I had access to milk much earlier, so they think it’s why I’m so tall.

The last few times I’ve visited the Philippines, I always stood out. I was the tall "American" girl that everyone saw.

I was flattered, but also, I felt that this always defined me, and the ‘tall’ one is not who I am either.

I’ve been on experiences that my parents didn’t do until they were in college. For example, during my sophomore year in high school, I went to a weekend retreat. My parents didn’t do that until they were in college or at a much later time in high school.

Since I have grown up in both cultures, I have one foot planted in each.

I am Filipino and American, but I’m also just me.

I am not a straight A student. I don’t live up to the Asian stereotypes.

I can’t speak or understand Tagalog like most Filipinos, but I still try to be as welcoming and loving as the people in my culture.

I didn’t become fluent in English right away, and til this day I still struggle a little bit.

I am Katrina, and I am neither defined by Filipino and American, but I still happily choose both.