By Vivian Chan
SYLP student
Time is inevitable. The clock ticks continuously as our lives grow shorter. As one generation fades, the other steps in.
Asian Americans are viewed as a stereotypical group of people who keep to themselves and walk their path with their eyes shut.
But which generation is this describing? The sons and daughters, or the mothers and fathers?
As a young Asian American daughter, sister, and student, I would say that the older generation follows this label more closely, while mine is drifting off onto a new path.
Through the Summer Youth Leadership Program, I have learned a tremendous amount from the speakers in our community.
During my three weeks in the program, my peers and I talked about the generation gap between the old and new. Most agreed that the youth are stepping away from traditions, yet also becoming stressed and pressured to succeed more than ever before.
The strain from parents, the whispers of huge competition, and the exhaustion from pulling all-nighters are draining the energy out of this upcoming generation. Our parents are used to a life of little to no education, and they relied more on labor than anything else. Nowadays, they push you to take as many AP classes as possible, to go to a huge college, and to earn enough scholarships for a full ride.
When doing all of this, we wander through life aimlessly, never looking up. We, the youth, now have to make a change, to finally stand up for our dreams.
Kollaboration, an organization and platform that has boosted many artists into the light, has opened doors to successful careers. Kollaboration is just the beginning. Soon, Asian Americans will be out there, not only in entertainment, but to balance this stubborn society that only sees one shade.
Slowly, but surely, the youthful generation will begin to lead, modifying the old-fashioned ways, and grow as a diverse community. ♦
Editor’s note: The ideas here do not necessarily represent Northwest Asian Weekly’s stance.