(American) Dream into Reality - Vheena's Story

Growing up, I was the only one who ever looked like me. When you’re a kid, this is probably the least of your worries. You go through life without a care in the world. When you finally grow up, you start to realize how isolating those numbers can be. For me, this was a constant reminder of who I was.

I’m a first-generation American and college student. My parents immigrated from the Philippines just years before I was born and ever since then, being an Asian-American is all I’ve ever known. I’ve visited the Philippines four times, and every time I’d felt a disconnect. I’m in no way fluent in Tagalog - I can only understand enough to comprehend one side of the conversation, but I can’t respond for myself. My life has always been here, in some corner of Southeast Michigan.

Vheena visiting the Philippines.

For eighteen years, working hard was a given. I went through elementary school, middle school, and high school with handfuls of activities and extracurriculars under my belt. At the end of the day, it was work hard, go to college, get a good job, and make us proud. Through every trial and error to make my family proud - to make the life they made for me in America worth living, it was easy to forget that my own goals were just as valid as theirs.

As I neared the end of my high school career, I strayed away from the ideals my family laid out for me. It was always the goal to go into the medical field, but that’s nowhere near the path I could see myself on. I found myself gravitating towards the business field, and that’s where my current path is taking me. When I decided to major in business, it felt like I was betraying my family. Even though my life is my parents’ American Dream, this is my reality. I was allowed to take life by the reins and do things that make me happy, and by the time I graduated, that is exactly what I did.

But graduating from high school usually means that it’s time to grow up. When I flipped through my senior year yearbook, I was once again reminded that I was the only person that looked like me. In a graduating class of 350, I felt alone.

It wasn’t until I got to college that things started to change. I started my first year with stars in my eyes, excited to be just as, if not, more involved than I’d been in the past. It didn’t even take a day for me to look around and see people that looked like me. Right off the bat, Eastern provided a safe space for all identities to feel embraced, from our Center of Race and Ethnicity to our student organizations. I never had to look far to see that for once, I wasn’t alone. From this point on, I don’t ever think I’ll feel that way again.

That same year, Disney+ came out, and with that came two shows that changed so much for me. Though yes, I’ve spent the majority of my life singing along to Breaking Free, High School Musical the Musical the Series showcased the one thing that I had been waiting to see since I was a child. Nini Salazar-Roberts, a character with goals, dreams, and passion, was Filipina... just like me. I remember watching this show for the first time and my head shooting up upon hearing Nini saying the word “Lola” instead of “grandma.” For the first time in my life, there was someone up on a screen who looked like me.

Float, another addition on the streaming platform, allowed another Filipino content creator to share the stage. With characters that have the same nose that I was once insecure of (and that I now embrace!), I had never been so excited to witness something on a screen. I cried happy tears when I watched these shows for the first time, and truly, I hope it’s not the last.

Now, I’m twenty. I’m heading into my third year of college. I’ve grown up. It’s been nothing but rewarding to see other Asian-Americans being given the platform they deserve (Steam SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo!), and more to come. Change, as scary as it is, is coming, and sometimes it starts by uplifting the voices that are never heard. I’m still waiting for the day that the next New York Times Best Seller features a Filipino character. Or a Disney movie… something that my younger self would’ve looked up to. Until then, I’ll be right here.

To JoAnne, Anne, and Noah - this one’s for you.

AAPI Student Resources and Organizations:

• Center of Race and Ethnicity (C.O.R.E.)

• Kapamilya Club

• Southeast Asian Student Association