I wasn’t Asian. I became one.

Kasumi H
University Park, PA

I came to the USA to attend Penn State as an undergraduate student in 2010. I was born in Saitama, Japan and grew up in Shanghai, China. When I arrived, it felt like I was turned into a spokesperson for all Asians. Before, I was just a person, a girl, a student. My experience is inherently mine, unique and valid — so are other people’s. Please don’t expect me to be an expert on all things Asian. There are aspects of Asia I still have yet to explore. I can only offer you my pieces of the great jigsaw puzzle that is Asia. The rest, you need to find on your own.


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