I was in South Carolina recently with my family. Every time I visit South Carolina, memories of my childhood always come back.
At 12 years old, I knew I was destined for more than what was available to me in the small town of Florence, SC. I was shy, quiet, nerdy and I knew I didn’t fit in. I remember being teased constantly about my asian features and half-filipino ethnicity.
It took me a very long time to accept my ethnicity and the further I tried to move away from it, the more I kept searching for my own identity. The minute I embraced my ethnicity, my culture, my diversity is the minute I found myself. I am proud of who I am.