Caught in the middle The Asian American First-Generation Crisis By Sabaina Ahmed
A
First-generation Asian American students resonate with a similar experience in the struggles they face when moving away from home to attend college. For Asian Americans growing up in a Western world, an internalized grapple with identity can push them to present as one end of their ethnic or racial spectrum, or create a dual identity depending on the circumstance.
When asked if she adheres to the presumption of this double-identity, Brinda*, a South Asian American student at the University of Florida answered, “A hundred percent. I was brought up as Hindu, and I personally don’t believe in my religion, but I can’t be open about that when I’m at home. There was a lot of encouragement to have a role in it, but I don’t feel
that pressure when I’m at school.” She explained that while the intertwined nature of her culture and religion can feel burdensome due to her beliefs, parts of her culture still heavily influence her life in college. “Because we’re minorities, it can feel like we’re alone. I love many parts of my culture. I make an effort to celebrate holidays like Diwali if I’m away from home when I can because it’s a part of me, but I don’t celebrate the religious
design by/ Aryam Amar
These students often live a double life at home and at school. Living in a predominantly white country, it’s difficult to surpass adopting Western ideas for traditional customs that are not widely understood in America. While there has been progress towards an acceptance of differences, the natural existence of two separate identities for Asian American students can be an effect of the first-generation experience.
South Asian American first-generation students can especially feel this duality as South Asian culture heavily intersects with tradition and religion. Many firstgeneration students from immigrant families are expected to grow up adhering to these traditions, and they find themselves branching away once they move for college.
photos by/ Xinyue Li
sian American is defined as an American person who is of Asian descent, but oftentimes there is an internal battle where it can feel as though the term is really Asian or American. Is it possible to be fully Asian and fully American, or half-Asian and halfAmerican? Will there ever be a point where the mind doesn’t subconsciously feel the effects of the biracial tug-of-war?
model/ Zainab Anila
6 | FALL 2021
