Identity IS Worth Fighting For

Where I'm From
I am from lawn chairs,
and being terrified of bees in our garden.
I am from soccer practice,
and being the smallest in the class.
I am from ice skating lessons, falling on my butt.
I am from my seven pairs of Converse that I’ll never throw away.

I am from Clifford the Big Red Dog,and the Boston Red Sox.
I am from N’sync and Britney Spears,
and wanting to be Michael Jackson’s background dancer.
I am from Corn Pops,and grooming vans,
and being the youngest on the flight to Las Vegas.
I am from No means no,
and my parents calling me my Chinese name, Ka-En.
I am from the angry old neighbor next door,
and High School Musical marathons.

A tradition that’s passed down the line,
generation after generation.
Tea ceremonies to celebrate weddings, 
Chinese New Year and birthdays.
Prolonging the past,
and foreshadowing the future.


Who I Am
Braided, puffy hair, into a pony-tail.
Dark brown eyes.
Cracked lips.
A watch from my half brother in Hong Kong.
A hair tie on my other wrist.
A uniform with one button undone and both sleeves rolled up.
Some rolled up pants; they’re too long.
Scar-filled legs, full of mosquito bites.
An awkward tan line from the wrist band that I wore for 2 years on my ankle because my wrist is too small.
My signature pair of Converse, with two tongues, ruined from dancing, running and skateboarding.
Socks that keep sliding down my foot.
Ears lacking earrings because of my sensitive skin.
Nails covered with pink, black and white nail polish.
9 toe nails, covered in white nail polish, one hanging off.
Different.
Quirky.
Awkward.
That’s me.

Identity is something that's worth fighting for. Everyone is their own self and nothing can change that. You have the right to fight for who you are and you should be able to be yourself no matter what. Your identity shouldn't even have to be something that you have to fight for. People are designed to be different and people should embrace that. People may try to take your identity away from you and that's when you have to fight for you identity. There isn't a certain way you have to be. Tradition can be an obstacle there and although it's tradition, I feel it's not fair. Everyone should be able to be themselves. Also, there are stereotypes and gender "roles". People often think that women have to do certain things, like work in the kitchen and clean up, and men have to do certain things, like work and make all the money. No one should have to live up to those expectations because they're not even real expectations.