“Without balance, you have nothing.”
My figure skating coach has taught me many things, but by far, this was the most important. Her wisdom proved true when I toppled on the ice from leaning too far on one side of the blade. Although I quickly found balance on the ice, it was not as easy to find balance in the rest of my life. I grew up in a Chinese American family, infused with the strong, traditional values of family, dedication, and cultural appreciation. My parents enrolled me in a Chinese school that I attended after church every Sunday. It was fascinating to observe lines on a piece of parchment translate into a language thousands of years in the making. I can barely read Chinese, but I’m still drawn to the language, to the rhythms of my culture that I understand instinctively. After calligraphy, I learned Chinese painting, creating everything from vivid mountain vistas to swimming goldfish. When I visited China, I was afraid of being “too American.” In school, I was afraid of being “too Asian.” Presently, I embrace both sides of me; my cultural background remains a source of happiness in my daily life.
