Growing up, I always felt like there was a negative connotation to being Asian in America. People would wrinkle their nose at my food, stretch their eyes out to tease me, or bombard me with stereotypes. Although I felt self-conscious at the time, looking back, I do not think they had hurtful intent. As I grew older, I started to appreciate my culture and embrace my identity more. I felt safe within the tight-knit Asian community.
