As the eldest, I’ve tried to protect my younger brothers when we were growing up, but it was hard taking on adult responsibilities when I was just a child myself.
TW: Abuse, Premature Birth, Bullying, Violence
In free verse, I try to put to words reoccurring memories that have been in my dreams lately and a regret that life was not easier for my younger brother.
In American culture, I feel there’s more of an openness over the past decade to addressing mental health, but it’s still an ongoing struggle for it to be taken seriously in Asian cultures. In my case, being mixed and first generation, I tend to be ping-ponged between the two. In an effort to take some of the weight off my chest, I’m writing to share a bit about my background and struggles on this self-care journey. Hopefully, there’s someone out there can gain something positive out of my story, even if that is just to know that you’re not alone.
“Ay, you! What province you from, again?” “Are you sure you’re American?” “But your face looks Chinese…eh, maybe you could be from Xinjiang, but no, not American.” These are the types of greetings I get every day in China from curious taxi-drivers, to cashiers, to grandmas who want to tell me that I should know…
Stephwaxpoetic 