My name is Ivy Chen and I am a junior at Langley High School. Growing up in an Asian American household, I learned to embrace and understand my culture and family’s origin. I am a proud Asian American and I am thankful for the environment I was able to grow up in. However, it wasn’t always easy to appreciate and share my culture with others, as I feared being judged because of my race and my skin color.
Read MoreJust last spring, some of my fellow students at Langley were publicly exposed for the usage of racial slurs online. The situation quickly gained traction on social media, and Langley (rightfully so) was shamed in front of thousands for seemingly being a racially insensitive school.
Read MoreIf you haven’t yet seen Sunday’s episode of 11/5 Issues LIVE! , I’d encourage you to take a peek and learn more about the history of our school system and how it operates today. You’ll see that there are many historical decisions that have legacies impacting us today. I will clarify two topics below.
Read MoreTo this day, I remember how embarrassing it was to me that my history teacher would call me "A-bra" with her Bostonian accent and how my music teacher called me "A-bear." I also remember being chosen second-to last in gym class and having a hard time keeping up with things I did not understand... It amazes me how specifically I remember certain things-- almost everyone by full name-- without much effort. I realize now that those who know me today could probably never expect that to have been my reality.
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