Old

By Olivia Yang, 16, Massachusetts

Medium: oil paint, canvas

As I struggle with my identity as a Chinese-American who was born in an immigrant family, I often wonder what side of me is the “true” me. These thoughts were especially prevalent when I visited China, my parents’ home country. I was a foreigner despite looking like the people around me. It caused feelings of shame and guilt, like I somehow wasn’t “Chinese enough” because of the many times I tried to abandon this part of my identity. This work depicts a young girl, me, who stands against a looking wall of an old traditional village in An Hui. Although I may not have grown up in China, at that moment, I felt very connected with my cultural identity as “Chinese.” I recognized that it was okay for me to feel somewhat foreign and not connected to my roots because of my unique identity as both Chinese and American. This still stands true today as I realize that my heritage is an important part of my life and I have embraced it, instead of trying to forget it.

Instagram: @oliviayangart1