Becoming Proud of What Set Me Apart by Leah

Becoming Proud of What Set Me Apart by Leah - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Growing up as an Asian American, I often felt like I lived in two separate worlds. At school, I packed lunches that made my classmates wrinkle their noses. Food that smelled “weird” or looked “strange.” I also heard comments like, “You must be good at math, can you do mine?” or “No, but where are you really from?” At home, I lived with my grandparents who spoke little to no English, and I sometimes wished I could trade my rice and home cooked stews for ham sandwiches and Capri Suns.

As a naturally shy child, I hated standing out. As I got older, I started translating for my grandparents at grocery stores, pharmacies, and even doctor’s offices. I felt the heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders that I wasn’t ready for. Trying to pronounce prescription names or explain my grandfather's kidney failure symptoms as a teenager was overwhelming. I remember wishing, more than once, to feel normal and just blend in. To have parents who volunteered at field days, spoke English, and didn't need me to handle difficult tasks like reading medical bills and refilling prescriptions.

When I left for college, I thought I was finally escaping the parts of me that made me feel different. But once I was away, I found myself missing the things I tried so desperately to hide. The quiet comfort of my grandmother’s meals that couldn’t be found in any restaurant. The familiar rhythm of a language that suddenly no one around me spoke. The warmth of a home built not from shared words, but shared effort and love.

It was through this distance that I began to reflect. My grandparents may not have spoken English, but they gave me something far greater. A deep sense of care, strength, and resilience. They taught me that love doesn’t always need to be translated.

To my younger self, the one who felt embarrassed at lunch, who wanted to be like everyone else, and dreaded speaking up, I would tell would to tell them that the things that make you “different” now will one day be the roots of your strength. Don’t run from them. You come from a culture that has survived, nourished, and protected you. Be proud.