Tell me a little about your background. A thought question for some direction: What identities do you occupy, and how do these identities influence your interaction with the world? 

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​I am a Chinese, low-income, first-generation womxn immigrant. I identify both with Chinese, Chinese-American and Asian/Asian American. There's always time in which I struggle between the identities of being Chinese/Asian and being American, both with the expectations of both cultures and of my family's and societal expectations of me. I identify as an immigrant - the immigrant experience really envelops my understanding of how to accept people from diverse backgrounds. Understanding the vulnerability but the power that comes with being an immigrant gives me the ability to relate to others in different ways. It is especially different navigating society, legal matters, and be actively on guard about issues that many people in this country never have to worry about. As a first-gen, low-income, immigrant with family who do not speak English, I fear for their safety without the protection of the legal and institutional systems that have been marginalizing folx who envelop my identity as well. There often times are conversations about uplifting each marginalized group, but there is not enough consideration about the intersection amongst the identity amongst institutions to support us. This was especially evident in College, in Medical School, and in the legal system. I felt that no matter how many times I've tried to communicate with the administration about the experiences that I have endured, because of my size (petite), asian (being historically seen as pacifists), student (not having the power in the institutions) and many other identities, I am dismissed. 

 

 

A key point in this project is the process of “othering”—a sociological phenomenon that is perpetuated by the majority group, enhancing feelings of difference among minority individuals. What is your experience with this, if any. How about within the medical space (with school, research, etc.)?

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​it's an interesting phenomenon to think about my identity in medical school and within the medical space. As a womxn, as someone who had a traditionally Chinese name, i was always dismissed and misaddressed. This was not particular to medical school, it was also particular to all institutions that I've been in. 

identities: 

- as asian --> not considered minority in the medical field 

-- as a low-income individual, I am considered as one 

--- as a first-generation individual, I am considered as marginalized in medicine

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I don't feel like I belong to POC groups because based on my looks, I am not considered as marginalized in the medical field, but more so that we can be an ally to the students of color and people of color interacting with the medical space. 

my identities gives me the ability to interact with my patients in different ways that my colleagues will ever begin to understand. To many of them, the conditions that they talk about, especially about social determinants, mental health, socio-economic barriers and more, are mere textbook descriptions, whereas it's a reality for me. 

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There's otherism within the medical community to be especially ableist as well. as an individual with accommodations, who experience a lot of mental health trauma, students don't recognize that they are talking down at our conditions as disabilities, and there's a struggle between being an advocate for my communities and the experiences that I had and not wanting to "out" myself, or better yet "let in" about my experiences because I hate to feel judged. 

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I've felt bothered by my own peers - where whenever I bring up issues that are especially pertinent to marginalized communities, they tune me out and talk and walk over me. Many of the times, they do not realize the impact and emotional burden that they put on me when they do things like that in classrooms and outside. WE have conversation about otherism and wanting to be inclusive, but medical schools, medical professionals I've interacted with have expressed aggression, doubt, and disgusts toward me. Whether it was not believing in my ability to thrive under these circumstances, forcing me to take semesters off when I am undergoing trauma without support or the means to support myself without school, or being bitched at by medical professionals for advocating for myself and for my patients because i am not an expert in medicine. 

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 I don't feel heard in the medical space. I always have to find my own mentor, which I am grateful that I was able to find some. 

There are folx in medical school and medical field with their paths laid out for them, and for their experiences to be catered toward them because they don't have to worry about anything else, whereas I feel like I worked with what I have in order to achieve what they already have handed to them. 

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I do not know how to do research the same way most others do, but I also did not have the space and time for them because while others have the times to work on their success, I am thinking about how to apply for jobs, scholarships and fellowships to allow me to familiarize myself with research opportunities available, nor do I have people guiding me to that. 

 

Did I already say that I have dismissed by the institution on multiple occasions when I express my discontent with their lack of action in social movements and in standing up for marginalized communities? 

yeah that happened. I remember my friend and I being asked "is it just you two problem or are others feeling the same way" by an administration. 

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This leads well to the next question. 

 

Can you imagine a future where students of minority identities can thrive and are supported, especially by our institutions? What does this look like?  

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 ... that's an especially hard one. 

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I don't know if I can truly see a place where minority identities can thrive and supported in the near future but I think by our institution, the first is to hire folx admin who actually care for the well being of students, especially POC and marginalized students so that they are willing advocates. 

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The institution being willing to invest in students who are financially and economically disadvantages and often times, those are students of color in marginalized communities. 

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Have funds, space for students with minority identities allow them to have a voice, not as a tokenism, but actually as leaders. Don't make minorities have to explain their experiences or struggles to others but work with us to ensure that what they are doing are actually working for us. 

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Its interesting to occupy a space where people tell us that we are there, recruited there for our diverse backgrounds but not have the resources to support us 

 

What does it mean for you to occupy this space as a medical student—in SKMC and beyond?

 

It gives me perspective, humility, and empathy. my identities give me the motivation and the driving factors to continue doing the work that I am doing so that I can provide care for patients throughout my medical career with a unique perspective, or a different perspectives where the "majority" identity will not be able to understand. It gives me the ability to interact with people and provide care with folx that share identities with me, and be able to provide them care that I know are appropriate for them, because I know what it's like being in their position.

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Occupying this space gives me the ability to be an advocate for myself and folx in my community but also listen to folx whenever they need a place. It allows me to obtain trust in myself and in others, because I know that the motivation that I have is driven from the right places and not from a self-centered space. 

 

Finally, I’d like to leave space for celebration of yourself and others— feel free to share any affirmations/last thoughts here. 

 

I commend all the marginalized folx in medicine who carved ways for us and provided us with the energy, the space and ability to be where we are today, in a society where we are not always accepted. Thank you for your strength and for your perseverance. You've served as amazing role models for us and for the generations of health care professionals to come. 

I also want to celebrate the folx who are marginalized in your own spaces. You've overcome so much adversity to get to where you are, and you are doing trailblazing work, leaving behind legacies for people. Be kind to yourself. Without you, there will not be change. You matter.