Growing up as an Asian-American, I felt some type of way. Always looked different, dressed different, had 'different' food for lunch prepared by my mom.
I dealt with stereotypes/racism everyday and made to Deny my own culture. But can't imagine what it was like for our parents.
Really, who was there to look up to that looked like ME?
No super heroes, athletes, Celebrities (Don't say Jackie Chan). A big reason why DBZ was so popular was because it gave us a heroes Asians could relate to. (OVER 9000!) But you know how Hollywood goes.
I remember getting CUT from the 8th grade basketball team despite being better than 1/2 the team. The same in HS... I played (2) years with (2) different coaching staffs. This skinny, short Asian kid with glasses. I had to run suicides faster than everyone, wall sits longer than everyone, and jump higher than everyone just to try and get some attention. Or I'd get overlooked as always.
My 3rd year we had our 3rd coaching staff and had to prove myself again. I remember going to the first week of conditioning and working my ass off as usual. But at the end of the week I could just feel that I was being ignored because of how I looked. And my fear of failure made me quit. At the time it hurt me, because what was the point? Asians don't go pro right? In hindsight I wish it fueled me.
This year UW produced (2) Asian American NFL players. The FIRST KHMER player and the FIRST CHINESE player to make it to the NFL. 💪I hope that young Asian athletes can be inspired by seeing people that look like them on TV. OUTSIDE of martial arts and being fragile nerds.
A younger me wasn't proud of my own culture and at times hid it. Now that i'm older, I'm proud to call myself (Vietnamese/Chinese) and most of all ASIAN.
#TheMarathonContinues
Shoutout
#HinesWard #JeremyLin #JinThaEmcee #YaoMing #MannyPacquio #DatNguyen
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from Things that motivate you http://bit.ly/2XTuNAV
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