WuKong Education “Tell Us Your ABC Story” Award-Winning Story: Growing up ABC – A Typical Twinkie
Welcome to Our ABC Stories!
In 2023, WuKong Education’s “Tell Us Your ABC Story” Global Story Contest invited Chinese families worldwide to share their tales. Renowned actor Daniel Wu, along with author Vincent Yee and the WuKong Judge Team, carefully selected 21 finalists from a wealth of touching submissions. Among them, 46-year-old Sabrina Yep’s “Growing up ABC – A Typical Twinkie” stood out, winning the Global Diversity Perspective Award. Sabrina’s narrative offers a unique perspective on the ABC experience, reflecting the vibrant diversity within the global Chinese community.
I grew up in a small town of Philadelphia, PA, where the two main schools were a public elementary school and a private Catholic school. Given my parents were match-made by the nuns from the local Chinatown church (and were fearful of public schools),it seemed natural they chose to send me and my sister to the only local private school there. I went to the local Catholic church where the student population was ninety-nine and a half percent Anglo American. A ballpark estimate here but the remaining half percent of that popula- tion consisted of at most: two black students (one who left after one year), one other Asian student (an upperclassman who left after graduation), me, and then my sister.
In fact, if I were to studiously do the math as expected of me, my parents would be so disappointed to see that I got it wrong. It was in fact less than half of one percent that made up anon-white population (of which two were Chinese). The precise percentage calculated with three consistent non-caucasian students out of a student body of eight hundred would equate to 0.38%. Unfortunately, numbers were never my forte. Not all Asians are good at math and therefore I renounce you, stereotype number one.
I was the token Asian in my grade K-9 (and pretty much half of a token in the whole school if you count my sister). Admittedly, since I grew up with mostly Caucasians I felt as if I were really just one of them. I wore braces like them, I got perms just like them which lightened my silky black hair to a nice brunette color. I rocked the stylish teased bangs, high pony- tails, and the neon colors of the early nineties. My entire neighborhood was white, the school was white, and the only time I ever saw any other Chinese people was when we had family gatherings or went to dim sum and when I had togo to my weekend Chinese school. Eventhough I was Chinese, it was like stepping into adifferent world during those week- ends of traditional foods, Cantonese-speaking family, and classes speaking Mandarin.
I’ll admit it, I was a banana,a twinkie, but I didn’t know it back then; at least not until we learned about other countries, or covered topics like how Chinese people labored to build the railroads or how they briefly mentioned in the textbooks about the Japanese internment camps. It was during those teachings and read-alouds where my face would turn red and I’d pray (the only time I prayed like a true Catholic) that the small paragraph mentioning those crucial times in history would quickly be read and we’d move along. In those times, anything that highlighted non-white struggles were merely glossed over and when it came to Chinese American struggles, I preferred it that way. Horrible. Disgraceful. Why would I not want the exposure of how poorly my people were treated discussed more?
I mean, I was never made fun of by my classmates (not the same people I spent nine years with anyway). My parents spoke perfectly good English: my dad was actually born in Philly, my mom was not … so that meant I was 1.5 generation? Since I was just like everyone else, it’s not like I had anything to be embarrassed about … or didI? Buzzer sound please … wrong, so wrong. Whenever that yellow spotlight came out I realized that despite my twinkie status, I was indeed your stereotypical Chinese student. I was mild-tempered, humble, quiet, and so accomplished academically and as a pianist that no one ever expected different of me. I obeyed the rules, was nice to everyone, and exemplified the model student. Occasionally I surprised myself. I ran for secretary of student council,a bold move forme. Then when my opponent called me “chink” my response to her was “God made everyone equal, if not better.” Strong “fightin” words for a mild-mannered Chinese Catholic student.
The truth was that I didn’t want to mess with my status quo. I was accepted like everyone else and being treated like everyone else, why risk making it different? For me growing up as a Chinese American in an all Anglo American society left a very small opening for any-one different. Don’t rock the boat. If there was only room for any other Eastern culture, I felt like I had to be the one to fit it perfectly. Not be toodifferent or ethnic at the risk of standing out too much, but just unique enough to be interesting.
The only time I made efforts to display my Chinese background was actually when it was time to exemplify the exotic parts of it, like Chinese New Year! Oh how jealous were class-mates when I brought in the lucky red envelopes and how cool was it that my mom made fried rice during the international food displays in sixth grade! I was even dressed in a traditional Chinese jacket and put my hair in buns during a restaurant commercial project with my best friend where I spoke in Chinese and she translated! Oh the compliments and claps we got for that! Yes, it was then that I was unique with the food and the exotic getups.
My parents always taught me to stand up for my culture, my beliefs, and be proud. They lived well and as a result, my sister and I did too. My dad worked at IBM and my mom even- tually became a realtor where she captured a niche of Asian and Indian clientele. In a way, the four of us were truly living as a nice pack of four Hostess twinkies in upper-mid- dle-class white society. I was lucky that my parents were able to get white collar jobs and I reaped the benefits. It doesn’t mean their lives were easy though, I know they worked hard to minimize our struggles.
It wasn’t until I experienced college where, I started identifying with other Chinese Ameri- cans. Finally, I found others just like me but yet still so different! What a way to experience the colorful palette of the human race‼ It was glorious, having friends of diverse backgrounds and cultures yet a common ethnic thread. I had been so sheltered from the diversity of my own Asian race. In fact, in my later college years, my social life flipped to become ninety-five percent full of Asians and it was ironically the non-Asians that would have to “fit” into the small hole allowed in my social circles.
However, I’ve always valued friends of all races and it wasn’t until I married my husband, also an American-born Chinese, that I truly found my place. With him I’ve learned much more as I value my Chinese heritage: the focus on family, pouring your hopes and dreams into your kids, and the pure bliss of enjoying a hot bowl of freshly cooked wonton. Yet with him, I’ve also learned to appreciate the other side of my identity as having grown up as an American, with the freedom and privileges that were given tome upon birth. I did not have to struggle to immigrate here nordid I have to become naturalized or finda partner who would help me with citizenship. I did not have a limit on the number of children that I could bear. I have a voice in a democracy that was founded on individuality and freedoms that other countries do not have.
I am lucky. Despite the challenges our country faces, I am lucky to have the opportunity to defend what I believe to be right and the voice to protest what I believe to be wrong. I am American and I am Chinese. I was lucky to be born here and I hope to instill in my children the same traditional values with more steadfast pride than I had. I want them to value achievement but not sacrifice, humble happiness in their strengths but unwavering confidence, and the voice to speak up about historical injustices to prevent repetition. Above all, I want them to have the spirit to be whoever they choose to be with the pride Ihave for them and with the endless potential they create for themselves.
Summary
As we reflect on “Growing up ABC – A Typical Twinkie,” we are reminded of the rich tapestry of experiences that define the ABC identity. Sabrina’s story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of individuals navigating the intersection of cultures. Through her candid reflections, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of the ABC journey. Let us continue to celebrate and embrace the diversity that enriches our global community.
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