As the daughter of an Asian immigrant, I’ve dealt with stereotypes my whole life. It’s true that my family can be considered “typically” Chinese; my mom urges me to study hard and I want to follow her footsteps in medicine. But my drive doesn’t come from a strict household like most people assume. At 35, my mom, with 2 year old me, my dad, and my grandparents, came to America. Divorced a year later, she single handedly took care of our family for over 14 years. When I became old enough to recognize her strength, I pushed myself to take full advantage of everything she has provided me. Her courage motivates me whenever I face adversity, because if she could care for a baby and pursue her dream, surely I can overcome any hardship. As a kid,
