My Story
Growing up with two parents that were dedicated truck drivers, riding through the diverse settings of the United States gave me exposure to the world's cultures. My summers consisted of distancing myself from the typical Southern California sun, allowing me to find comfort in other familiar places, such as the local motels in Georgia* or truck stop buffets in Texas*.
From the barren prairie of Oklahoma* to the towns buried in Louisiana trees*, I felt that I understood an aspect of American culture that couldn't be seen by a typical tourist.
After growing up with so much exposure and change, I thought that it was a lifestyle that I had gotten used to. I began to yearn for vacations far from home whenever I could, and I began to take my hometown for granted. During my sophomore year of high school, my family had suddenly made a decision to move from Arcadia, CA to Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I was in shock. I loved vacations and experiencing new people, but I had never imagined leaving my lifelong friends halfway through high school. Out of fear and pure stubbornness, I convinced my family to live with a friend of mine for half a year in order to have closure.
The last semester I had was dreadful, as the daunting move was only getting closer every day. It was difficult to establish new connections because I knew they wouldn't be permanent. Once I finally moved, I had been thrown into a demographic that was completely different from the usual asian bubble I had grown up in. The culture shock was frightening at first, but the more time I spent around these new people the more I realized I had known nothing about American culture. I had only driven through parts of the country, but my perception of the world had always been internally aligned with the hometown I grew up in. Being in a new environment that forced a level of growth led to becoming more open minded and perceptive of how diverse people can be, even if they are only 40 minutes away.
The experience of adapting to such a diverse and new environment paved way for not only arriving in college, but arriving in the real world. Life is about constantly changing environment and adapting to the people around you. I was so afraid of leaving my hometown permanently after leaving every summer that I had closed my mind off to how people around the world actually live, not just where they are. I am now prepared for the next big change after I graduate from UCSB and where I may land in the world and the people I will be surrounded by.
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| Motel 6 in Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Loves Truck Stop in Texas |
From the barren prairie of Oklahoma* to the towns buried in Louisiana trees*, I felt that I understood an aspect of American culture that couldn't be seen by a typical tourist.
After growing up with so much exposure and change, I thought that it was a lifestyle that I had gotten used to. I began to yearn for vacations far from home whenever I could, and I began to take my hometown for granted. During my sophomore year of high school, my family had suddenly made a decision to move from Arcadia, CA to Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I was in shock. I loved vacations and experiencing new people, but I had never imagined leaving my lifelong friends halfway through high school. Out of fear and pure stubbornness, I convinced my family to live with a friend of mine for half a year in order to have closure.
The last semester I had was dreadful, as the daunting move was only getting closer every day. It was difficult to establish new connections because I knew they wouldn't be permanent. Once I finally moved, I had been thrown into a demographic that was completely different from the usual asian bubble I had grown up in. The culture shock was frightening at first, but the more time I spent around these new people the more I realized I had known nothing about American culture. I had only driven through parts of the country, but my perception of the world had always been internally aligned with the hometown I grew up in. Being in a new environment that forced a level of growth led to becoming more open minded and perceptive of how diverse people can be, even if they are only 40 minutes away.
The experience of adapting to such a diverse and new environment paved way for not only arriving in college, but arriving in the real world. Life is about constantly changing environment and adapting to the people around you. I was so afraid of leaving my hometown permanently after leaving every summer that I had closed my mind off to how people around the world actually live, not just where they are. I am now prepared for the next big change after I graduate from UCSB and where I may land in the world and the people I will be surrounded by.
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