AAPI Heritage Month - A Personal Essay by YWA Teacher Sera Lee

I was born and grew up in my adolescent time in Korea, the morning calm country. I was one of the majority nationalities, lived in one of the most desired areas, and was a descendent of noble ancestors whose names were in my school history textbooks. When growing up, South Korea is largely a homogenous society and I didn’t have to think about marginalized groups. After marriage to a Korean American who came to Seattle at the age of 4, I became an Asian American. My best soul friend as well as my husband who is a successful Engineering Manager has had a deep pain in his heart which we couldn’t name until ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Stop AAPI Hatred’ came out. Talking about these matters led us to pull out old hidden memories which he experienced through his school life because of the color of his skin and being a minority. We have faced where the pains came from and want to do a small proactive action to protect and support those who have the same pains. Hatred news has taken away my peace living in this land but also made me think about my selfishness and lack of empathy toward those who have pains as marginalized groups. There are good values and chances as living as a U.S citizen but also room to build more just and righteous systems and to embrace and bear one another just as who we are. I really appreciate our YWA teams, families, and students who respect and care for one another just as who we are so we can grow together.

Sera Lee, YWA Math Teacher