Plainfield, IL
But even through the struggles, the Taiwanese people have still kept their identity alive. This admirable perseverance and dignity represents how strong Taiwan is and how strong we are as a people.
Who are you?
Hey, I’m Kelly! I was born in Chicago in the spring of 1993. Although I’m a second generation Taiwanese American, I spent my childhood in Taipei, Taiwan speaking Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese as my first and second languages. Around the time I was about to enter grade school, I flew back to Chicago to start my schooling. It was pretty hard to understand at a young age why I had to acclimate myself in such an unfamiliar place, but I got along OK. After graduating from ESL, I quickly made English my first language. My parents, wished for me to explore my creative side as well, so I found art. Pretty soon, I discovered my two passions, languages and art. And I guess that’s pretty much who I am, a language nerd and art geek.
What do you do?
I have to admit, I’m a bit of a geek. I pretty much spend my days drawing. I’ve dabbled with acrylics, paints, markers, charcoal, colored pencil, clay, pastel, and Adobe Photoshop. But my favorite is still the good ol’ pen and pencil. Most people know me as a wannabe manga artist, which I enjoy being. But, recently, I’ve been trying to expand my abilities to expressing who I am instead of pleasing others. I am Christian and after reading the Bible and Paradise Lost for inspiration, I created a disturbing surrealist piece to convey what I feel awaits man at the end. On a brighter note though, I’m also trying to use my skills to reconnect fellow Taiwanese American Foundation campers to the beauty of the Mother Country. Although I haven’t ventured far into this project, I feel that many would appreciate reminiscing beautiful nature of Formosa or just a 7-Eleven convenience mart. I really wish in the near future, that I can share my love for my home with everyone, Taiwanese or not.
Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?
I am proud to be a second generation Taiwanese American. I’ve always viewed Taiwan as the underdog of all the Asian countries; one of the smallest but very influential. Historically speaking, Taiwan has endured being occupied by the Dutch, the Chinese and the Japanese. But even through the struggles, the Taiwanese people have still kept their identity alive. This admirable perseverance and dignity represents how strong Taiwan is and how strong we are as a people. Also, the Taiwanese American Foundation has made me more proud to be of Taiwanese heritage. The staff, the campers, and the community have really helped reunite me with my roots.
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