Poly was the only City school at The Maryland Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Conference (MAPISAC), an event created to help Asians explore their identity and community more deeply. This year’s conference was held at Calvert Hall College High School on April 20th, 2024, and the experience was an incredible experience! Growing up as one of the few Asians in the Baltimore community, I’ve always felt a strong need to embrace my culture internally, share the beauty and knowledge of my culture with peers, and foster appreciation for our differences. Poly’s Asian Student Union (ASU) is a place where Asian-identifying students come together to share experiences, do fun activities, and host fundraisers. It’s a key part of boosting Asian representation in the Poly community. When hearing about this conference, it met our agenda and some of our club members were able to attend the conference, which consisted of 300 students from 20+ schools, predominantly private schools and a handful of county schools, across Maryland.
The conference started at 9 am and wrapped up by 3 pm, and our schedule consisted of several things. Firstly, we received cute pink t-shirts where on the back it states “Preserving our Narratives” which was the overall motto of this year’s conference. Then followed a welcoming speech and introductions. Afterwards attendees participated in three breakout sessions that spanned a variety of engaging topics. The day also featured a talent show, lunch, and a heartfelt conference closing. Below is a detailed list of the insightful and diverse topics offered during the breakout sessions:
Asian in Business
The Asian Experience Across Generations
Our Cuisine: Our Culture
Physical & Behavioral Expectations
How Environments Shape Labels
Censorship of CCP
Romanticization of Asian Culture
Objectification of the Asian Community
Representation in Mass Media
The American Dream
Stereotypical Representation of Asians in Media
Rising of Asian Music
A History of Henna
South Asian Narrative
Navigating Multiracial Identities
One Conversation at a Time
I was assigned to topics about “The American Dream” and the “Asian Experience Across Generations.” The American Dream discussion was heavily introspective. First, participants shared their understandings on the American dream, commonly viewed as a new start for foreigners and immigrants, emphasizing achieving a form of success in America. The conversation deepened with a presentation of this theme through the lens of film. We watched a clip from the 2020 movie Minari which portrays a Korean family’s pursuit of the American Dream in rural America. The Oscar nominated film is one of the most realistic portrayals of the immigrant experience, showcasing both the financial and emotional struggles of immigrants. My main takeaway was that the American Dream is not a final destination. It’s a process, a long and hard process, with trials and tribulations such as the struggle to assimilate to mainstream American Culture while still being rooted in ethnic identity. Watching and discussing the film clip pushed the group to reexamine our perception of American success. Many young Asians and other communities feel the pressure to succeed because of the sacrifices our parents and grandparents made to come to this country. This session made me think about my family and my dreams: how do I want to pursue the American Dream? These types of powerful discussions were shared among young bright individuals from around the state.
“Asian Experience Across Generations” clarified what categorizes first, second, and third-generation immigrants. First Generation are those who were born outside of the United States. Second generation are those who were born in the United States with at least one parent born outside of the United States. The third generation is the grandchildren of immigrants or kids of the second generation. The discussion explored the complex feelings of being both Asian and American. It raised important questions such as: Are we losing our cultural identity by living in America? To enhance our understanding of these identity dynamics, a video titled “Third Generation Asian American” by UMICHDiversity was shown. This presentation delved into themes like being labeled “white-washed” or “Americanized,” the processes of assimilation, cultural preservation, and the challenges of navigating between multiple cultural identities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xoIFoj3aUU
I encourage all Asian Identifying students to join Poly’s Asian Student Union. We look forward to attending next year’s MAPISAC at St. Paul High School. Joining us, you will have a great opportunity to meet new people, explore societal and cultural ideas, and discover more about yourself.
