Delivery Partner, State of Oregon
Resilience in the face of the unknown
My parents immigrated to the U.S. to seek freedom from an oppressive government. Growing up in a new, faraway country without my extended family taught me to be resilient in the face of adversity, to deeply nurture those you care about and to be adaptable in any situation. Acting as a bridge between two cultures in my family from a young age shaped me into the empathetic and resourceful person I am today. Through my personal self-discovery journey as a young Asian American adult, I’ve come to appreciate both sides of my ancestry — I attribute my artistic side to my Chinese roots and my warrior side to my Mongolian heritage.
Supporting the AAPI community
Supporting AAPI peers is deeply treasured by those who have felt their voices were not important enough to be heard, their accomplishments downplayed as simply a byproduct of their ethnicity, or those who have felt misunderstood by their colleagues because of their unique cultural backgrounds. If we make a conscious effort to ask our community how we’re doing or what our thoughts are, it will lead to more open conversations and new perspectives.
My parents, my inspiration
My parents grew up in extremely impoverished conditions in Inner Mongolia. My mother never faltered during a difficult upbringing, and was admitted to Peking University, known as the “Harvard of China,” where she met my father. A few years later, they fled to the U.S. to avoid the oppression of freedom of speech faced by their fellow Beijing students — and with nothing more than a few dollars in their pocket, attended graduate school, raised two children and advanced in corporate America. My mom is my ultimate role model, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities available to me in this country, thanks to my parents’ sacrifices.