Breaking the Mold

Asian-American youth have found a harsh struggle between connecting to their culture and assimilating into a new one. A significant difference between cultures is the idea of independence. Asian cultures tend to focus heavily on family and tradition, while Western culture prioritizes future thinking and individualism. This can lead to strife between family and one's self. Many first-generation immigrants found a way to America seeking better lives for themselves and their future families, but their children don't experience their life the same way, not only because of the passing of time but also because of geographical location. This conflict has been one of numerous reasons for the steadily rising suicide rates in Asian American youth. "From 2013 to 2019, rates of suicide in AAPI (Asian American, Pacific Islander) youth and young adults aged 15–24 years old increased by 40% and 42% in males and females, respectively, signaling a need for further monitoring of this population." (Breaking the Silence) The relationship between race and suicidal indicators has only recently begun to be studied and this is a colossal jump that takes the lives of 362 Asian-American youth in a single year. (2021) This correlates with discrimination, interpersonal violence, and harmful stereotypes. In a way, their whole begins with the odds being stacked against them. Some have not let this become their downfall, many have become living legends or even just happy and successful people.