The Black Man's Truth

The black race has endured racial injustice, prejudice, and oppression since the formation of the Thirteen Colonies in North America. From Texas to Mississippi to Alabama to Virginia, black slaves had to work inhumanely while carrying the traditions and culture of black civilization. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Langston Hughes refers to himself as the man who built the huts when Africa was just born, the man who bathed in the rivers of the earliest civilization, the man who built the African monument of the pyramids, and the man who witnessed Abraham Lincoln during his first visit to New Orleans. Obviously, Hughes has not lived for nearly 5000 years, but as a black man, he represents all of black civilization, black tradition, black history, and black culture. While individuals may change, the rivers never change as they witness all that the black man has witnessed from the beginning of life, which is best exemplified using the refrain, "I've known rivers." The black man knows the river just like how the river knows him and his past. This degree of verisimilitude creates a truthful, historical account of the black man's struggles and burdens. Using a chronological order, Hughes builds the poem up to the eventual freedom of the blacks when "its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset." While this poem is not perfectly truthful, Hughes' use of verisimilitude illustrates that the emotions that Hughes feels and carries reflect the emotions of his race from their early and recent histories.

In Memory of My Loving Grandfather

On December 1st 2013, my grandfather, Tho Tran, passed away in his sleep at 3 AM in the morning. Yesterday was his funeral. He was strong, diligent, loving, caring, resilient, determined, compassionate, sympathetic, gracious, considerate. The list goes on and on, but not one word can describe my grandpa's complete character. Without a doubt, I can say that he was successful. However, he wasn't your typical example of successful; he didn't end up living in a mansion in East Egg with butlers to feed him. He had a dream to lead his family to live a happy and prosperous life, and he accomplished that goal. That is success. It's not about money or cars or mansions; it's about doing what is right and reaching that goal. Common themes between The Great Gatsby and "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" are the corruption in materialism, how much men and women worshiped wealth, and loss of fundamental moral values. If my grandfather was somehow placed in these stories, my grandfather would be the perfect foil for Tom and Daisy and the Washington family who represent these themes.

Let me tell you a little bit about him. He was born in China, but grew up in Vietnam. He was a farmer, a businessman, family general store owner, highest position at the local temple, and the elected principal for a public school, but in his heart, he was always a farmer. He was one with nature; although he left his farms in Vietnam, he created 2 new farms in my uncles' backyards when the family moved to Toronto! From melons to peas to lettuce to tomatoes to all kinds of herbs, he took care of each and every vegetable as if they were his own children.

As for his children (my mom, aunts, and uncles), he made sure that they all went to school and worked hard. He was the most generous man I had ever known. He would give out more than he could afford to give out to the community, temple, and family. Even though he was the youngest in his family, he was the one who kept everyone together as a family. If friends or family were in need, he would find a way to solve the situation. For example, during the Vietnam War, he hid his nephews that would otherwise be sent to war at his own expense. If they were found, my grandpa would surely have been sent to jail or even killed. This is one of his life lessons: Family is everything. Always put family first regardless of the situation.

Whereas the wealthy characters in Fitzgerald's novel were careless, uncaring people, that used others like disposable resources for their own advantage, my grandfather was a man with integrity and virtue that made life better for everyone around him. Whereas the wealthy characters only acted in self-interest, my father almost always put others in front of him. For him, life wasn't about achieving goals personally; it was about helping the community and ensuring his family's prosperity. Although his body is not with me today, his spirit will always be a part of me and will lead me through the good times and the rough times. He was a brave man who fought through his cancer for 2 years and never backed down even though the doctors said he had 6 months to live. Thank you for those unforgettable memories and life lessons.I know you are in a better place now, pain-free and happy. Rest in peace, Grandpa.

Welcome to the Show!

The Great Gatsby! What a misleading novel to read! All along, I had been thinking that Jay Gatsby was the perfect man, adored by all just as much as how Mrs. Clark adored Atticus from "To Kill a Mockingbird"!

The title of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous novel, "The Great Gatsby," sounds just like the great magician Harry Houdini's stage name, The Great Houdini! This clever title symbolizes Jay Gatsby's magical-like abilities to conceal his true identity as a weak and nervous individual. From his dirt-poor and hopeless character of James Gatz, he has transformed himself into the affluent and well-connected Jay Gatsby. He manipulates almost everyone into believing in his vast wealth, creating a mystical illusion in the New York community. He hosts extravagant parties like advertisements for all of New York to see his infinite wealth and even (attempts to) speak like an Englishman to assert his luxurious background. However, even though Gatsby claims to have good standing like an East Egg resident, he is actually a young, insecure man who finds his fortunes only through illegal activities like bootlegging alcohol. Mr. Carraway, the honest and tolerant narrator, later reveals that Gatsby continues to live in the past as he hosts all these parties to capture the attention of his former lover Daisy. "The Great Gatsby" is a legend and a theatrical performance, but also an allegory that teaches us that the path of greed and wealth are intertwined with the path of loneliness and suffering.

I Swear, I'm Lying to Protect You!!

Protection is a key instinct in human nature. The human survival rate is drastically higher than other animals like fish and birds due to strong parental care throughout life; after all, a parent's basic instinct is to protect his/her offspring from getting hurt. However, lying in order to protect one's offspring has two conflicting ideas. Should we protect our children from the evils of the world, or should we expose them to reality, so they can learn from history's mistakes? In the satirical poem, "The History Teacher," Billy Collins questions the reader on the extent of protection that builds up and eventually leads to lying. 

There isn't a clear-cut sensor in our brain that tells us whether we should lie or tell the truth.  We use our conscience to construct a mode of action suitable to the situation. If you had to lie in order to save one's life, the immediate reaction would be to lie. On the other hand, if you had to lie in order to save face, that would be immoral and dishonest. Those seem to be two completely different viewpoints, right? Now, how about telling your kids about divorce or death, which may permanently alter their behavior and personality? Can they "handle the truth?" Obviously, our own morality and integrity tells us to tell the truth... ALWAYS! Many people say lying is simply immoral and deceitful. However, there must exceptions to this moral code such as preventing harm or pain to yourself as well as others. The history teacher in Billy Collins' poem personally believes that his conscience is telling him to do the right thing in order to save the innocence of his students, but he fails to recognize that his teaching materials shapes his student's character to shield themselves from the evils of the world rather than be oblivious to those evils. 

This morning, I was listening to Imagine Dragon's new hit song, "Demons." In the chorus, he sings these lyrics, "I wanna hide the truth. I wanna shelter you. But with the beast inside, There’s nowhere we can hide. No matter what we breed, We still are made of greed." This exemplifies how protecting someone through lying is useless; the truth will always reveal itself. Our conscience decides whether to lie or tell the truth. but it is important to keep in mind that lying should not impede on others' ability to pursue happiness. Innocence is a gift. Humans, kids and adults alike, should be kept innocent and happy from the true evils in this world. In the end, it truly depends on one's strong conscience to decide to act in the best fitting manner.

Punctuation: An Overlooked Subject

Even though society continues to change, it is essential to modify punctuation and its rules in order for the changing English language to convey the user's meaning in a coherent and distinct manner.

As society evolves in a similar fashion to the advancement in technology and communication, it is important to note that the punctuation rules that influence the reader's interpretations of a text will always remain important whether it be in past literary works or current literary works. In the cartoons, two identical sentences represent two utterly contrasting meanings (Source G). As shown, one little modification to the punctuation in a common declarative sentence disproportionately changes the author's original intent. From texts to statuses to articles, the rules of punctuation play a great role in a reader's interpretation of meaning. In Dolnick's article, Kurt Vonnegut accuses semicolons of "representing absolutely nothing;" however, they actually connect separate but complementary clauses together. In addition, Dolnick asserts that they are "vital tools in keeping ... the stream of thought" by communicating a meaning through an organized structure rather than a long list of vague, enigmatic statements (Source E). Dolnick did not realize that the rules had changed since the time that Vonnegut made that statement. From its original use as an unnecessary and optional punctuation mark, the semi-colon has evolved to have a meaning on its own; in fact, the usage of punctuation reveals the author's intentions in the text. Although rules are important in our world today, they will always change as man finds new rules and punctuation marks to accommodate his needs. Furthermore, rules establish a common ground for both the author and reader in order to comprehend the text. The world has evolved its communicative technology to include text messages, Facebook statuses, and Twitter tweets; tweets themselves are literary works that use punctuation to convey the user's meaning. With a 140 character limit,  "users are forced to be concise" (source F); consequently, users have developed a new method and rule that will allow them to convey the essence of their tweets in quick, succinct words: hash-tags. Although Twitter users may not  frequently use conventional punctuation marks like periods and semicolons in their tweets, they certainly use hash-tags (#) to provide a concise expansion of the author's thoughts. Just like how technology will always change from the old, inefficient wagons to the current, updated Lamborghini's, punctuation will always change to fit humankind's needs

She's A Strong Independent Woman

During this week, we discussed the different views of feminism between the works Deborah Tannen and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Whereas females are illustrated as the lesser and weaker gender of the two, I strongly believe that both men and women have same degrees of responsibilities and power in society.

It is important to realize that stereotyping will continue for the rest of human existence. Human nature is inclined to feel insecure; consequently, humans will always judge others to compare themselves. However, in "The Scarlet Letter," Hester's strong character allows her to become an outlier in society. Her isolated position combined with her perseverance unexpectedly give her the ability to rise from the deep depths of sin to the thriving position of a seamstress who not only sews for the rich, but also provides for the poor. She has the power to contribute to society and its demands. She has the power to change other people's views of her although she will never forget her sin herself. She has the power to maintain her moral integrity and wear her scarlet letter with a sort of pride.

An individual's power is directly derived from community's placement of power to that individual. Society will see what they believe they will see. For example, the community places such low standards to "sluts," simply from appearance because that is what society expects from a "slut." Many high school students or even adults regard individuals, especially women, with skimpy and revealing clothing to be considered sexually promiscuous, in other words, a slut. People are inclined to stereotype these certain ways because there are actual prostitutes or promiscuous individuals in our world today, and humans have a nature to compare and contrast with other humans. However, women should not be confined to these lowly opinions; they are part of the human race with equal rights and equal power, whether "marked" or "unmarked". Women are leaders in the world, whether from household environments to professional environments. Every human in the world, both man and woman, has and always will have the capability of substantial power and responsibility.

Reflection on 1st Quarter

It's astounding and mind-shocking when you realize that the tests we take tomorrow can ultimately change our life. Think about it. If we test poorly, we ruin our chances of receiving an A in the quarter. Consequently, that quarter grade, which is worth 40% or 42.5%, takes away your chance to achieve an A in the overall semester. It will be mathematically impossible to achieve it, let alone emotionally. You work your butt off and finish with a 93 at the end of semester. Not bad right? I mean... its a 93!! You think to yourself, "Good work! You broke even! Do good on your midterm and you're good to go!" Now, if you calculate the test score needed to finish with an A overall, you need a 93.. a NINETY-THREE on the midterm exam that encompasses everything from the start of the school year to the finish of the 1st semester. If your GPA significantly decreases, say goodbye to Yale. Say goodbye to Stanford. Say goodbye to Michigan.  Every test that we take can decide whether we go into a prestigious school like Michigan or a trashy school like Michigan State (in honor of Saturday's exciting game between Michigan and Michigan State!!!). Once your GPA drops, you might as well say goodbye to  the college of your dreams. 

As I think about this current major problem in my life, one clear solution is the need for the clutch factor. Yes, I said it. The clutch factor. The clutch factor is the ability to perform under pressure in situations that have the most impact. For example, if you take an exam worth 500 points and you get a high grade in this type of stressful and impacting situation, that is CLUTCH. You came into the test and simply beat the odds. 

Some things I found relatively humorous were the complete contrasts in the definition of clutch. One connotation of cluth is performing under pressure. However, another connotation of clutch is becoming nervous and panicked, in other words, choking. Choking is the INABILITY to perform at a crucial point. In sports, failing to perform in crucial points or contests due to failure of nerve is choking; it is simply unacceptable to lose that huge opportunity because of such little things like nerves. In school, it's just not worth it to sacrifice your grade because of silly mistakes or completely terrible test-taking strategies. In this perspective, it's not a matter of how much you practice or study; it's all comes down to the game or test or whatever it may be. You can be a genius, but if you can't take a test, you are doomed to fail. You must succeed in the tests, head-on and with no doubts. It's ironic that one definition of clutch means to successfully impact in the most important moments, whereas another definition of clutch is the "inability to perform" and become indecisive. It's almost like a 50/50 scale. You tip over to one side and you have the positive clutch connotation; tip over to the other side and you might as well cry yourself to sleep. In the end, it's up to the individual to find methods to follow the path of "clutching," the ability to perform under pressure whether in the classroom or on the court.

Don't Give Up!

This week, we briefly discussed our personal values and mottoes. Mottoes express our true goals, ideals, and beliefs; however, I believe that one motto is not enough. One single, concise sentence cannot possibly describe everything that we stand for as well as all of the values that we truly revere and strive to follow. The first motto that I came up with is, "Don't give up on your dreams and your dreams will never give up on you." Just when you think you are ready to give up, you must always think on the time when you finally succeed and fulfill your aspirations. As long as you keep trying, there is no way you can fail. Your mistakes do not lead to your failure; rather, it leads to your success as you build from it and bounce back. This motto will always remind me to keep going and never quit on my dreams. However, I will always remember many other inspiring quotes that I have come across over the years. Here are just some of them.

Vince Lombardi: "Winners never quit and quitters never win. It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
He tells us that only winners have the will to win, the will to come back, and the will to continue on.

Ronald Reagan: "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
I admire this quote because it relates to my strong belief in giving back to the community. One person cannot do everything by himself/herself, but if everyone contributes a little part here and there, the world would not only be a better place for current society, but also for the generations to come.

I thought about John Kennedy's chiasmus, "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." I broke it down to a simpler chiasmus, "Ask not what society can do for you -- ask what you can do for your society. They're both nearly identical, but I feel that helping society is much more important than helping your country. You live to attempt to make a difference, an impact in this world. You live to be successful, a way of success that only you can define for yourself. You live to die on your own terms, to die when you know that you have accomplished everything that you have ever wanted to accomplish.

America The Brave

As time progresses, one would expect that life becomes easier with less conflicts. However, that is not the case with political events. The world keeps changing, and governments morph in order to accommodate those changes. Early colonists worked to create the country that we live in today: the great United States of America. Now, our chosen representatives are setting the whole country into disarray by shutting the very government that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and many other colonists, worked and died to create. In 2009, we had to deal with the recession. Not too long ago, we experienced the fiscal cliff. Now, we see ourselves digging into a deeper hole by averting the true problem of the debt ceiling.

The government shutdown was a selfish act by the government. It "took $24 billion out of the economy" according to Standard & Poor’s, a financial services company. From the federal workers to the small businesses surviving through government contracts to the tourism industry from national monuments and historic sites, hundreds of thousands of Americans have had to bear the burden of this unneeded complication.

United States should be the country "upon a hill" that all countries model. America used to have a great role in world affairs; America's very own Declaration of Independence inspired many other declarations of independence in the world to revolutionize their government. Yet, with all these internal conflicts, America is losing its powerful voice on the global stage. The U.S. must unite together to work out its differences, whether Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. After all, the government is all working in the common goal to in "to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." Although the government has agreed to extend the deadline and temporarily avert this problem, this problem will arise once again. President Obama said these events had inflicted "completely unnecessary" damage on the U.S. economy. Since the government itself understands the effects of their actions, they must act swiftly and efficiently for the sake of compromise and prevention of similar problems.

If government continues to do so, the United States of America will no longer have an important role in the world. Crisis after crisis, the government will lose its credibility with its partners and competitors, which will ultimately lead to the broken fragments of a once-omnipotent force of the world.

A Day Never to Forget

Saturday was an unforgettable day. For the first Homecoming that I've ever went to, it was a great experience. Not only did I have a fun night with my friends, but I also found myself on the headline of the sports section in the Troy Times newspaper. When I saw the picture of myself, I was astonished and exuberant. I felt over-prideful and swaggering. After all, it's not every day that you see yourself in a newspaper that is circulating in a city of 83 000 people! I shared it on Facebook and Twitter, and received many likes and heartwarming comments. Yes, it was a great personal accomplishment, but I found it much more enjoyable when I shared my achievements with my friends and family. They share their enjoyment in my success, and I am very thankful that they are a part of my life. My uncle commented, "Take it all the way to the top Vincent!!!!" My mom's friends were calling her, and everyone was congratulating me! It's important to get that kind of confidence boost, especially with the States tournament coming up in a few days! Ego may have a negative connotation, but it undoubtedly plays a great role in anyone's confidence and spirit.

 Reputation is part of a person, although intangible. It is a person's name, identity, prestige, and standing in society. A person's reputation is built on his/her actions, words, and thoughts. However, a person’s reputation only exists due to other people’s judgments and opinions. Without society, reputation ceases to exist. In my personal example, I felt that my reputation rose only because others gave acknowledgement to my success. In "The Crucible," John Proctor and Reverend Parris fear for their reputation in society when they refuse to allow the society to know their dark secrets. However, they don't realize that a part of their life and reputation lives with society; they are and always will be forever intertwined.

The Thin Threads of Sanity

During class this week, I wondered how events like the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare can cause such shocking consequences. In a few days, society can flip upside-down and the ones you know to be honorable and robust are shipped to jail and sentenced to death. Not because of murder and robbery, but because of accused charges with no evidence to prove. What is it about human nature that makes such hysteria possible?

It is in human nature to feel insecure about themselves. The actions and influence of one's surroundings cause him/her to become anxious and troubled about himself/herself. Whether you are Albert Einstein or President Barack Obama, everyone has the universal fear of the unknown. Sometimes, the unknown may be a benefit to humanity; however, the possibility that the unknown may be malefic terrifies many.

Some people find that the only way to make them feel better about themselves is by making other people feel inferior in order to inflate themselves to superior beings in society. In “The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail is a 17-year old orphan, automatically placing her in the lowest rung on the social ladder. At her current rate, she will be going nowhere in life and will be a maid for the rest of her life. She has no power and importance to the society and has no one to care for her. Obviously, she feels a need to change her position, and she takes her opportunity when the community swirls with rumors of witchcraft. She diverts the attention of her witchcraft in the woods to acts of witchcraft by social outcasts and later, respectable people in society like John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Giles Corey. 

The world is fragile. Everyday life is fragile. The only thing holding these thin threads together is common sense and sagacity. However, hysteria removes the clear sense of mind and logic and replaces it with the flaming fires of uncertainty and irrationality. 

Why Can't We Be Friends?

Since the beginning of time, religion has played a great role in global affairs as well as in every individual. From Christianity to Mormonism, Buddhism to Hinduism, and Islam to Sikhism, they're all religions trying to make the world a better place with better people that live in it. I've never really understood why some people make religion their absolute priority. Everybody has their own beliefs and ideals, so why do these people have the urge to self-impose their own religion on others?

Who's right and who's wrong? Does it even matter at all? It's the hypocrisy in religion and real life that strayed me away from the whole subject itself. According to the dictionary, religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Yet, religions have caused many conflicts in the world. From the Crusades to the War on Terror, religion has caused the world to break apart and separate. According to Religion and International Relations Theory by Jack Snyder, religious civil wars are longer and bloodier than other types of clashes. They are also twice as likely to recur and twice as deadly to noncombatants such as innocent citizens. So why would anyone want to inflict all this pain and damage? Why can't we all just be friends and get along?

Most religions teach their disciples to be moral and scrupulous; however, history has shown that many people go against their religion and act in a shocking and embarrassing manner to their religion. For example, the Westboro Baptist Church members call themselves Baptists, yet they are inhumane and sickening, refusing to accept other people's religions, race, and nationalities. They've disrespectfully picketed at soldiers' funerals and recently plan to picket Blake Shelton's concerts simply because he divorced his first wife and married Miranda Lambert. They don't accept the fact that both men and women have a choice in their marriage. If this is what religion comes down to, then please, things seriously need to be changed.

Religion is definitely a murky subject with many different views and beliefs. In my opinion, I believe that there is a god somewhere up there; I don't know what type of God he/she is, but I do think he/she is there. Ultimately, the greatest advantage to religion is the ethics and morals that it teaches. Whether you move onto some kind of afterlife or not, life is all about for the living -- being a good, virtuous person and contributing positively to society.

Dealing with Stereotypes: A Memoir

The name of my blog is "Life of the 11th Grade Canadian"; however, it should really be named "Life of the 11th Grade Canadian/American/Chinese/12.5% Vietnamese Student*." Hey small-eyed Asian, why you no get no A's? Hey hoser*, you're Canadian eh? Send me some maple syrup with the bacon, will you? Dude, you're American. Let's go to McDonald's and get fat and lazy!

In Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, the reader experiences the racism and prejudice as a Native American living in a land of the whites. Alexie shows us how important it is to remember who you are, yet also remembering that you are a separate being and only you have the ability to live out your life .

The first time I experienced personal racism was in 10th grade during lacrosse season. I've experienced stereotypes that were meant to be playful or teasing, but this time, someone acted maliciously towards me simply due to my natural race (as an Asian). This year, my friend and I were the only Asians on the Troy High Lacrosse team. It was my first year playing lacrosse, but I picked up the game and improved as I played. I was a starter on the team and scored numerous times that season, but when we played the Birmingham Seaholms, I was in for a treat. One player was especially hostile towards me and played very roughly simply because I was an Asian playing in a white-dominated sport. However, that didn't stop me from playing my own game; I went on to run past him and score a goal in that crucial game. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." That game taught me not to back down to anyone, especially to someone who tries to degrade you for who you are. 

I've lived in Canada from my birth until the end of 8th grade. I moved from Canada to Troy before the start of 9th grade as a result of of my dad's promotion in GM. While I was in Canada, I lived in a white-dominated town called Ajax, in the suburbs around 25 miles away from the well-known city of Toronto. I attended a local school, but moved to a gifted school after Third Grade. Once I moved, I didn't necessarily stand out to the rest of the students; however, I learned to work hard and earn those A's. I turned out to be one of the top in my class, excelling in math with perfect 100's in my classes. I didn't earn that 100 because of a hidden Asian gene in the 22nd chromosome that gives me all the answers to every test. No, no, definitely not. I earned my A's from hard work and perseverance. As a child, my parents enrolled me to Kumon, an educational program specializing in math and English. Sacrificing 30 minutes of my day to Kumon's everyday homework brought me ahead of the pack. I was learning 8th grade math concepts when I was only in 5th grade! It felt great to be learning ahead of everyone and helping others when they didn't understand a concept. I graduated my school with honors and top of the grade in math. However, reality kicked in when I moved to Michigan.

It all started when I was taking a pre-test in Ms Quilliam's office on the first day of school; I was trying to test out of Algebra 1 and Geometry. I had received 100's in my math classes, yet I was struggling to answer these questions for a supposedly easy math class. I realized that the U.S. is on a completely different level to Canada when it comes to education. Whereas Canada focuses the learning in high school, the American high school program almost starts in the elementary school level, in which kids enroll in the Advanced Placement program in 3rd grade (that's what my sister is currently doing!). I thought I was the best, but in reality, I was just another student going into Troy High School. As Asian as I was, I was not ready for the American high school life. 

On the first full day of school, I walked into my English class and had no clue what to do, or where to go. I sat in a desk, only to be moved because it was Hannah Ma's seat! I sat behind her and became friends with a dear friend of mine, Ben Mansky. He's the one who recognized me as a Canadian with my "accent" and constant use of "eh." Obviously, he recognized me since I was so kind like a true Canadian (just kidding, it was because I asked to go to the WASHROOM)! We've always joked about it, but we know that I'm just a mix of everything. Contrary to popular belief, Canada is not very different from America! They're both first world countries with similar technologies and interests. The weather is the same; Windsor, Canada is actually more southern than most parts of Michigan! The people are the same. In fact, the people in Troy seem to be nicer than the people in Canada! However, it's hard to understand this when you can't experience both the Canadian and American life. To my Canadian relatives, I'm apparently Americanizing; to my friends, I will always be part Canadian, and to the rest of the world, I'm the smart Asian who doesn't need to even try in school to get an A because all I do is study.

Contrary to Asian stereotypes, I play many sports and was actually one of the best athletes in my school; however, it was always tennis and volleyball that I enjoyed playing the most. I played competitive volleyball and even won a national title in Eighth Grade! Yes, yes, even sports enjoy the fun in stereotypes. Volleyball has always been viewed upon as a girl sport, but it's a sport of power and explosiveness. Imagine hitting a ball as hard as you possibly can, maybe to the empty spot on the court or maybe at an opponent's face! Imagine coming face to face with a ball coming 50+ mph towards you and having the nerve to hit it back! In the hotter states like California or Florida, that's almost all they play. Volleyball is a great team sport that involves skill and teamwork. Yes, the girls wear spandex shorts and it shows off their assets, but no, boys do not wear spandex. I seriously don't understand why there isn't a boys volleyball program in Michigan. Many other states have it, so why doesn't Michigan?!

It's always been a struggle for me to become fully Asian. I've gone to Chinese school for 8 years in my life on every Saturday and still cannot master the Chinese language. I have 31 cousins and 24 uncles and aunts. The majority of them speak fluent Chinese, except for those who immigrated to the United States from Vietnam during the Vietnam War (but that story is for another time!). My parents speak two different dialects of Chinese, yet they can speak each other's dialect with ease. However, my sister and I have been whitewashed to the extent that we can only listen fluently, but speak limited Chinese. I love being Asian and all the cultures and traditions. It's just those moments when you feel like you don't belong anywhere. You don't belong in the white society because you're not white. You don't belong in the Chinese community because you're a disgrace since you can't even speak the language. However, being Asian is part of who I am! It's hard for me to imagine myself being a white person growing up in a white family. I'd be eating sandwiches day after day instead of rice with all sorts of meats and flavors. My mother is an amazing cook, and I don't know what I would do without her food when I'm in college; her specialty is pho, a delicious Vietnamese soup. My father works hard every day as an engineer at GM to give us a home and food to eat every day. He enjoys me with amusing stories and helps me with his knowledge. Without my parents, I would be a nobody, so shout-out to my parents! <3 They understand that it's not always easy to get high grades, especially in my AP classes this year; all they ask for is that I try my best and achieve the best I can possibly achieve. A's are amazing, but B's are okay too if you can learn from your mistakes and errors. 

It's difficult living with so many names. Stereotypes are commonly judged assumptions/judgments about a group of people. The word "stereotype" has a negative connotation, resembling discrimination. However, stereotypes play a great role in society. It is in human's nature to judge others by their looks, behavior, and abilities to be able to understand the world better. Through stereotyping, we know what's right and what's wrong. It is always important to confront those stereotypes and be who you truly are. Don't let others tell you what to do. Don't let others tell you who you are. Because only you can decide for yourself, what you want to do and who you want to be.

* Why 12.5%?? My paternal grandmother was 50% Vietnamese, making my father 25% Vietnamese, thus making me 12.5% Vietnamese!

*Hoser is a slang term primarily used by those imitating Canadians.

We Are the World

Although I am only one person out of 7.18 billion people, I believe that every individual has the ability to wield a great deal of power in society. Yes, even the band geek that nobody knows. Often, many people mistakenly regard power as brute force; however, power is the ability to act or produce an effect. Every day, I wake up. Change my clothes. Go downstairs. Eat my food. Brush my teeth. Walk outside. Go to school. Take a test. Take some notes. Stay awake. Take more notes. Go home. Do homework. Go to sleep. How do these actions contribute to an individual producing an effect, that is, wielding power? 

Every now and then, we ask ourselves, "What can we do to make a difference in the world?" Every little action has the possibility of resulting in a larger reaction. From volunteering to supervise the children's playing area to wishing your teacher a good day, you produce a positive effect for that individual or group of individuals. Nonetheless, you also have the ability to ruin a person's day by posting hateful comments or on a larger scale, refusing to allow a human race to enjoy equal protection and man's inalienable rights.

With great power comes great responsibility, as Huckleberry Finn finds out in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Initially, Huck Finn has little power and individualism; as he progresses throughout the novel, his ability to influence others and produce an effect escalates. For once, he has the power to decide for another individual, leading to his moral dilemma of changing Tom's life by either helping his friend Jim escape slavery or returning Miss Watson's "runaway nigger" (Twain 216) to his rightful place. 

On the contrary, the opposing view would believe that people have as much power as society gives to him/her, similar to the Declaration of Independence and how it affirms that the government has as much power as the people gives it. According to this viewpoint, community confines certain people to achieve great heights of power, whereas others wield little to no power. Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shows his power as the leader of the robber gang as well as leader of the plan to steal Jim. Even though Huck carries the most responsibility for Jim, he obeys all of Tom's orders regardless of its absurdity. Some would say that Tom originally carries this power to control Huck as well as Tom's fate because of his heritage and upbringing as a respectable middle-class boy. However, one individual's actions cannot possibly be confined to society's demands. Huck could have dissented Tom's ridiculous plan, but he does not express his conflicting ideas or feelings with conviction, and he continues to submit to Tom's silly ideas. 

Every person is an individual with his/her own ideas and actions, which in then leads to an effect on other individuals. Whether an individual acts by thanking a stranger or sets a black slave free, he/she wields the power to create positive and negative effects. All individuals in this vast world have the capability to carry immense power for their every action.