Karen and Shang-Jing

What did you learn from your mother about being Taiwanese? (妳從妳母親那兒學到甚麼是一個台灣人?)

I learned that being Taiwanese means being strong, independent, and proud of who you are and where you come from. I also learned that no matter what Dad might think, Taiwanese Moms are always the boss 😉

What is the most important thing you have learned from your mother? (妳從母親／女兒學到的最重要的是甚麼?)

I’ve learned that if you work hard and never give up, you can achieve great things.

My mom is the model of perseverance for me — she went to Kansas State University for graduate school, and lived in a basement apartment with a dirt floor and no insulation. Her desk was a table balanced over two piles of bricks. She didn’t know a single person in this country, let alone in the small town of Manhattan, Kansas. I don’t think I would have survived that, but my mom never gave up. She has come so far and achieved so much since then, and I admire her greatly for that.

Tell us about how your mother inspires you. (妳的母親／女兒如何激勵妳?)

My mother inspires me so much — she is smart, funny (mostly on purpose…) and successful. She’s so self-confident, adventurous and always willing to try new things.

What is one thing that you would like your mother to know? (有那件事是妳希望讓妳的母親／女兒知道的?)

I want my mom to know that she is my hero — she has sacrificed and overcome so many things, and she is the strongest person I know. I want to be just like her when I “grow up” 🙂