Who You Are Matters - Blog 1

 Who You Are Matters 

Home has always been an ambiguous concept. By age ten, I had transferred five schools, moved to four countries, and spoke three languages. I was born in Michigan to an automotive family. Since my dad was responsible for planning upcoming car releases, he was sent to multiple countries to work on car projects. Because of his work, I had the unique opportunity to live in the United States, England, Germany, and China. By definition, I’m considered a “third-culture kid,” which applies to individuals who spend a significant part of their childhood living outside their passport countries. When people ask me, “Where do you come from?” I often have a hard time deciding what to say. For simplicity purposes, I usually say I’m from Shanghai because I lived there for nine years. 

Given my background, I’m very comfortable with change, and I find myself seeking a change in environment when I feel too stagnant, whether through travel or moving somewhere new. After graduation, I will move to New York City to work in finance. Although I’m nervous about officially entering the workforce and becoming an “adult,” I’m excited about the future. I hope to continue building meaningful connections at work and get promoted within my first three years. 

I’m like my parents because we all love to travel and try new things. Growing up, my mom always planned our family trips. I never realized how much work planning was until I started to plan my own trips after college, which made me appreciate my mom’s efforts a lot more. I’m unlike my parents in that they tend to take initiative once they’re given a task, while I procrastinate occasionally. My parents also work for a car company, a field different than my intended career path.

I’ve always been a high achiever, especially in my academics and career. While my parents want me to do well in school and have a promising future, I’m grateful that they always tried to put my health (both physical and mental) first. Because I grew up doing well in school and extracurriculars, I unconsciously developed high expectations for myself. Even without external pressure, I set high and sometimes unreasonable expectations for myself. Since college, I’ve been trying to lighten these internal expectations for a more enjoyable USC experience. 

Quite frankly, I can’t think of a role model that significantly impacted me. If I had to choose one, I’d say I’m a fan of the music artist Niki. Music plays a vital role in my life, and I resonate with NIKI because of her identity as an Asian-American female in the space. 

Moving around a lot has forced me to adapt to foreign environments. Because of this, I feel most connected to a chameleon. As for a childhood encounter with a plant, the first memory that came to mind was when I got stung by poison ivy. When I lived in England, our family always went on walks in the forest nearby after meals. I remember my dad warning me about poison ivy, but my curiosity got the best of me, and I eventually got a slight rash on my arm. The experience taught me to perhaps not be TOO curious about everything. 

Sun Sign: Cancer

Moon Sign: Sagittarius

Rising Sign: Virgo