Blog #7

My biggest takeaway from this week's discussion was that we all have some form of privilege. It's not something we think about or even recognize on a regular basis, but it affects our everyday lives.

One of my target identities is being Asian. While I am only half Chinese, people sometimes see my Asian features and make judgments based on that. There are so many stereotypes associated with Asians that either set impossibly high standards or make you the butt of a joke. Some Asian jokes are in good fun, but far too often lines are crossed and derogatory statements are made based on my ethnicity. 

A non-target identity of mine is being a college student. Growing up, college was always an attainable goal. My mom always supported my academic career and told me that she would find a way to pay for any college I wanted to attend. Far too often, I take for granted the support I had in going to college and the education I am receiving at this university. Being a college student opens up so many doors for opportunities that others may never receive. 

While being a minority may come with it's struggles, it has also pushed me to work harder. The work ethic that I have developed based on those struggles helped me to become a college student. Both of these identities affect my daily life. Each day on campus I gain skills that I couldn't learn elsewhere and face adversity because of my appearance.