Zuying Zhu
Annie Chen was studying Fa Lun Gong book in her dormitory. ”I think I am different from other people. I do get in touch with Chinese culture. That’s because I practice Fa Lun Gong.” Chen, who is study psychology and plans to be a nurse, said her parents’ traditional Chinese values have had a great impact on her life.
Courtesy of Annie Chen
Chen with her Mom. As traditional Chinese parents, the family ties always play an important role in their life. Chinese parents are cared a lot about their children and eager to spend time with their children, Chen’s mom is no exception. “You do not call me enough. You always hang out with your friends instead of me. You are not so closed to your parents who raised you." Chen was upset and considered it as a culture conflict between her and her mother.
Zuying Zhu
“I feel like I did not learn a lot of Chinese, but do like reading on the Fa Lun Gong book, the whole book in Chinese. It is like practice of the Buddha School. It is more of the Chinese culture and traditional morals that it teaches. If I did not grow up with that, I probably would not have so exposed to so much Chinese culture.”
Annie Chen
Annie Chen, who is currently studying psychology and going to nursing major, from Troy, Michigan. Her parents are from Taiwan, Asia.
Courtesy of Sarah Vang
Sarah Vang, a junior with public policy major in Michigan State University, from Detroit Michigan. Her parents are from Laos, Asia.
Courtesy of Sarah Vang
"Hmong Student Association is really where I found most of my friends that I am really close to right now. I have friends from different backgrounds, but the ones who I am closest with are my Hmong friends."
Courtesy of Sarah Vang
"People just believe that because you look Asian, then you are not from here. That’s unfair because Asians like Chinese and Filipinos have been here since 1700s, for a real long time. But today we are still seen as foreigners. That’s why I am really close to my Asian roots, and my Hmong roots. Because we went through a lot, and I just have a sense of responsibility that I need to try to educate people about the history."
Courtesy of Sarah Vang
Hmong American Student Association, a small community in Michigan State, which has less than 20 Hmong people throughout campus. Although the group members are not as large as than other student association, Vang thinks that it is fine because verall in the United States, there are just probably 200,000 Hmong people.
Courtesy of Sarah Vang
“I consider myself as Hmong American because I feel like Asians are too broad.I was born here and I do accept identify a lot of what I do with American culture. But my parents and I are in Hmong group, watching Hmong movies, listening to Hmong music, and having Hmong foods. So I identify highly with Hmong.”
Zuying Zhu
Lei Xu, the captain of Chinese soccer team Crose, a senior in Michigan State University,with mechanical engineering major, from China Asia.
Zuying Zhu
Xu joined in Crose when he was a freshman. He was also the founder of the Chinese soccer team.
Zuying Zhu
The soccer match between University of Michigan Korean soccer team versus Crose, the Chinese soccer team in Michigan State University.
Zuying Zhu
“We organized the team in 2014. We gave the name Crose because we loved Corona beverage and Michigan State football won the Rose Bowl title at that year. So we chose the letter C and combined it with Rose. That’s how the team name came.”
Zuying Zhu
“I did not participate in American students’ clubs because personally, I think that we have different culture background. Staying with the same ethnic peple, for me, will make me feel more comfortable. We had some team members who were from Hong Kong, Malaysia and sometimes when we do not play soccer, we still hang out with each other such as playing FIFA games, and having meals together.”
At Michigan State University, 5.8 percent students at the university are of an Asian heritage, according to the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives 2015-16 annual report on diversity. That’s about 2,500 students.
To understand what it’s like to be from an Asian racial background at Michigan State University, we interviewed Asian American students Annie Chen and Sarah Vang and a student from China, Lei Xu.
“People just believe that because you look Asian, then you are not from here,” said Vang, who is Hmong.
Chen, who is study psychology and plans to be a nurse, said her parents’ traditional Chinese values have had a great impact on her life.
”I think I am different from other people,” she said.
Xu, a mechanical engineering student, said he spends most of his time with Chinese students.
“Staying with the same ethnic people, for me, will make me feel more comfortable,” he said.
Baolian Qin, an associate professor of the department of Human Development and Family Studies in Michigan State University, studies cultural issues and is interested in the mental health of high-achieving Asian-American students.
“There is a tendency for students to choose peers who are similar to them. This is true for all ethnic or racial groups,” Qin said.
“Research shows that friendship with the same ethnic peers can buffer against negative impact of racism or discrimination for immigrant and minority students.
“However, staying with people who are from the same ethnic group can also limit their opportunities to interact with other peers. Research also shows that co-ethnic peers also have negative influence on students if within-group bullying occurs or when students are involved in gangs together.”
Editor’s note: This story was edited on Sept. 16, 2019