Sarah Chang

Student. Creator. Analyst.

I grew up in Taiwan and spent most of my life enjoying delicious Taiwanese street food. I am a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis studying Customer Analytics. I am interested in examining customer behavior through data analysis and generating creative solutions for businesses. Though I enjoy working with numbers and codes, I am an artist at heart. During college, I studied Film and Media Studies and practiced photography and drawing. I’ve created designs for promotion, photographed for events and people, and made films about pressing issues. I want to use my art to connect with the world. Through the power of storytelling, we can shed light on underrepresented topics and inspire changes, love, and conversations!

 

How does being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American and/or community ally play a role in your life?

My identity as a Taiwanese never jumps out at me until I started college in the United States. For the first time, I participated in discussions about cultural identity. In the beginning, I saw my identity only as a label, a way of introduction, a conversation starter, and a passport into a specific community. Being able to say I came from the place that invented boba made me felt special. During my sophomore year, I became the president of our school’s Taiwanese Student Organization. I had the responsibility to coordinate various events to expand the presence of Taiwanese culture. Through event programming, I realized being Taiwanese is more than just a tag. I have the responsibility to give it meaning, to share and contribute, and promote Taiwanese culture. By acknowledging the identification, I also take on the weight of representation. Being Taiwanese not only shaped my personality but also influenced my decisions and became a motivation. I made it a priority to help promote Taiwan and foster a community for Taiwanese to grow together. Moving forward, I would like to contribute to the growth of Taiwanese film and art to help them take on a global presence.

 

watch our interview with sarah!

 

If you could teach future generations 1 thing about being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American or Taiwan, what would it be?

Even though I grew up in Taiwan, I spent most of my life thinking about how to be “Taiwanese.” With my heritage in China and not being able to speak Taiwanese, I don’t feel “tai(台)” enough. The doubts hindered me when participating in discussions on specific Taiwanese issues. I started to silence myself or choose to go with the dominant beliefs. However, after meeting Taiwanese/ Taiwanese Americans from different backgrounds and engaging in in-depth cultural discussions, I’ve realized that we share the same love for Taiwan even with the differences. Taiwan has a long history of cultural integration and a very complex politic. The varying stance and background can’t make one less “Taiwanese.” You don’t have to fit into a specific profile or characteristic. The important thing is to have the heart to advocate the culture, be aware of assumptions and differences, and keep open-minded to learn and grow.

Favorite memory of Taiwan/Taiwanese America?

Travelling is one of my biggest passion. I’ve been to more than 30 cities and journey to most of the continents. I enjoy seeking the best view, trying the unique cuisine, photographing, and sharing these experiences. One of my most memorable trips is hiking the second highest mountain in Taiwan. It wasn’t the challenging trail or effort to overcome that made a lasting impact. It was the clear, fresh smell that alleviated all the soreness and the magnificent view that made one feel just a little be closer to heaven. I remember looking over the sea of clouds as the sun descends upon the horizon. It dawned on me how I’ve overlooked the beauty of my home. I want to share this with the world.

 

Favorite Taiwanese food?

Taro Balls

 

 


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