Surface Answer:
When someone asks me, “Where are you from?” I often hesitate before answering. It is a question that seems simple on the surface, yet for me, it holds many possible meanings. Does it refer to where I was born? Where I grew up? Where my family is from? Or does it mean the culture I feel most connected to? Each possibility tells part of my story, but none of them capture it fully. My family is from Guangzhou, China. I was born in New Jersey, USA and grew up in Shanghai, China. Today, I am a university student in Houston, Texas. My background seems complicated, but overall, I see it as a strength because it helps me gain perspective. Reflecting on this question helps me recognize how my cultural identity has shaped me and how it will continue to guide me in the any future career paths or academic paths I choose to pursue.
How my background has shaped me:
In terms of my ethnic background, I do indeed feel tied to my Chinese roots. From traditions and language to values such as respect, perseverance, and family loyalty, my heritage has shaped the way I see the world. At the same time, because I attended an international school, it allowed me to connect with the western culture, allowing me to easily shift between different cultural settings, balancing the expectations of one while adapting to the norms of another. This constant contrast between my background, especially with two years of my high-school career in South Florida, allowed me to hone skills of adaptation and communication. These skills have become central to who I am, and they’ve played an important role in social situations where I was able to look at problems and situations differently because of my ability to understand perspectives that differs greatly from my own.
The places I am from:
The physical places I have lived in have left lasting marks on me. Shanghai, with its busy streets, the smell of street food, and the neon lights at night, gave me a sense of energy and constant motion. It taught me how to navigate crowded spaces, how to find quiet moments in chaos, and how to appreciate the mix of modernity and tradition. New Jersey, where I was born, represents beginnings even if I have few memories of it; it feels like a seed that has grown into the larger story of who I am. Houston, where I currently study, has introduced me to a completely different rhythm of life, with sprawling campuses, cultural diversity, and a slower, more reflective pace at times. Each of these places contributes layers to my identity, shaping how I interact with others and perceive the world around me.
What is this question REALLY asking?
The ambiguity in answering “Where are you from?” has also helped me accept the beauty of complexity. Rather than viewing my background as fragmented pieces of different locations, I see it as layered with experience and stories. With this mindset at the back of my head, I approach most challenges with the willingness of considering multiple angles rather than with a fixed perspective. When asked this question, I truly believe that it is not a specific location that can summarize my background, rather, I am from the stories that shaped me, not just the place I was born.
Experiences that shaped me:
For example, I am a dancer that has performed on numerous stages for numerous occasions. The stories behind my identity as a dancer in China as a background helped me understand the beauty of communication without words. In addition, cultural traditions that I’ve experienced growing up in Shanghai has personally shaped my eagerness for celebration. Beyond dancing, other experiences such as traveling with my family, volunteering at local events, and attending cultural festivals in multiple cities have all contributed to my understanding of the world. Each new environment has given me new perspectives, from the quiet streets of residential neighborhoods in Shanghai to the crowded malls in Houston, teaching me how context affects interactions and emotions.
The philosophical perspective:
Ultimately, I am from more than physical places, cultural backgrounds, or even specific experiences. I am from curiosity, from questions, and from the reflections on those questions. I am from the small moments—learning a traditional dance step with my grandmother, catching a sunset over the Huangpu River, laughing with friends at a university club meeting—that when combined, create the essence of who I am. “Where I am from” is a question without a single answer; it is a collection of places, values, stories, and experiences that together form a layered identity, one that continues to grow as I encounter new challenges and new opportunities.