My Story

Connery, my best friend, is a blonde-haired, 5'5", strong-built, green-eyed, outgoing human; just like my mom. We have always shared a passion for soccer and so when it came time for Connery's birthday present, I could think of nothing better than tickets to the Orlando Pride Women's Soccer with my mom. It was summer, in Orlando, and we were all dripping with salty sweat by the break at halftime. The three of us rushed to the indoor concession like sinners escaping from church. My mom went to buy water and came back with three waters and a random woman who happened to be my mom's colleague.

"Girls, this is my co-worker, Linda," my mom said smiling as we outstretched our hands in polite greeting.

"Cathie, I can't believe how much your daughter looks like you!" Linda said thinking nothing of her complimentary comment.

Connery and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. This is a common occurrence. People assume I am not my mother's daughter.

I am not crazy, definitely not rich, but I am 97% Asian. I break all the stereotypes though. I am not destined to be an aeronautical engineer or an analytical chemist, and I don't think my future career is in a nail salon. I don't take violin lessons and spend my free time studying Latin roots. I was not raised to be the traditional Asian: my mom is not considered a tiger mom (although sometimes I question that), I definitely do not have the perfect grades (much to my mom's dismay), and I was not raised to be timid and quiet. These are just not the stereotypes that define me. I am the class clown, trying to make everyone laugh, including the teacher. I am not valedictorian of my class, although I put in my best effort. I am the opposite of timid and quiet; I excel and thrive off of human interaction, and if I am alone too long I get depressed (five minutes is my limit...okay, more like one...wait... 30 seconds...). I am the kid who seems to have her entire life together (which is as true as the next person's), and it is important to me that everyone around me is having a good time (having fun yet?). I am the loud, and if I am being truthful, the sometimes obnoxious Asian in the room (I apologize if that was you in the movie theater).

I was raised by a single mother who looks nothing like me. Everything I stand for is what my mom has taught me. The question that I have carried throughout my life is "Nature or Nurture?" What do I get from my adoptive mom, what do I get from my biological parents? I would like to believe that Nurture is the conqueror. Although I am adopted, and I didn't biologically come from my mom, that doesn't mean we don't have our fights like any other mother-daughter duo. I was raised as an All-American. My childhood was filled with Chika Chika Boom Boom and Hannah Montana. I love hanging out with friends and staying up all night; I think Friday Night Lights are the greatest part of fall sports in high school. I could have gone to a different high school where the Asian ratio is a lot higher, but I wouldn't truly belong because I was raised completely differently than the other Asian students.

My life is sectioned off into two different worlds. In one world, I am abandoned. I am insignificant and unwanted. But that world ended on April 8, 2003. My second world is the world that defines me. In this world I am the chosen child. I am wanted and loved. In this world, my blonde-haired, green-eyed mother has taught me to love without boundaries. This is why my dark- haired, brown-eyed self knows that I am my mother's daughter.