i want asian youth to see that they don’t have to aspire to whiteness to be valuable. i want us to define value through our own lineages. so much of what i love about being vietnamese today are things that are unremarkable. i love the fact that our language is full of double meanings: with hospital also directly translating to a house of love. and how we describe mourning—chia buồn—as sharing sadness so we all can hold it together, so it’s less heavy on our hearts. i love the way my grandma gently slaps my face when she’s beyond happy to see me. i love that it’s in our genes to be part of the resistance. i love jungle asians: unruly, innovative, tough, and sensitive at the same time. i want youth to give themselves permission to be all of it, even when it’s contradictory. with so many asian folks in a state of grief about the violence from the public and from the government, i’m grateful to be part of this series for @prose, photographed by @cindytrinh.photo ❤️‍🩹 this #aapiheritagemonth, @prose is donating to @apexforyouth, which develops resources and mentorship for asian and immigrant youth. #aapi #asianamerican #aapihm #apida