I am Lulu Huang

Even if my life has been a total of twelve years, eight months, and a couple of shaved-off hours because today’s the eight-month anniversary of my birthday, I’ve seen many things. From birth all the way to who I am today, I have grown, changed, and lived my life as Lulu Huang.

Lately, a lot of stuff has occurred in my life. The official quarantine started on March 13, 2020 (though I left a day early), a plethora of new things happened in my cliques, and the Asian-American hate crimes leave a bitter and sad taste on my tongue. A lot has changed since quarantine started, something I can say with utmost honesty.

However, there’s still light to be found – I would find myself beginning to relearn the Chinese language, my native language that I hadn’t picked up for years; I would attend a PCE meeting and gain new perspectives on the world, as well as its many diverse cultures and people, and I would begin to take a step into responsibility as I would do my first official volunteer job at CAPA-NoVA, teaching native Chinese speakers to pronounce English syllables fluently. While life’s been tough, I’ve had many different people and experiences to look up to.

My family guided me through the tough times. They provided emotional support for when I was feeling down, they provided physical support by continuing to care for me, and they gave me people to look to for inspiration whenever I needed it. They’re the foundation that kept me up when I wobbled, but I’ll never have to look down at them to see how great they are – and I’m glad to say they’re not the only ones.

My friends taught me many lessons, big and small. I learned a wide range of things – from how to identify the brown-headed cowbirds flocking in my backyard to how to be a good friend, both things I hold dear to my heart. No matter what has happened in the past months, I see myself pushing forward because of their help and their spirit.

And finally, all the people around me. My teachers, who have somehow given me one of my best school years I have ever experienced. My non-school teachers, who have given their precious time to me to teach me things I’d probably never learn otherwise. All the organizations fighting in their very own ways for peace and justice and unity. They inspire me to no end.

While writing this essay, I realize it’s not very Asian-American focused. I had already written a conclusion more befitting of the contest’s theme, but I scrapped it upon reading my essay once more and seeing why I had written it in the first place. This essay is more about me, Lulu Huang, as opposed to the culture in my very name. I haven’t written about my “favorite Asian tradition”, or my “Asian heritage making me stronger”, or even my “life as an Asian-American”. And I have a simple reason: I’m not simply Asian or American. I’m both, something I’m proud of, and I’m also me. I will define myself for who I am. I’m Lulu Huang.

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