Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Spotlight | Catherine Ma

What does Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Mean to you?

It is a month to remember AAPI’s history in America - to recognize and celebrate the influences and cultural contributions of AAPI, and to promote a more inclusive community.?As a first-generation Asian American immigrant, I got to live in and experience rich and diverse cultures from both sides of the world.?However, in the beginning, I had always thought that adapting to a new culture means that I must leave behind another one in order to blend in and be accepted. I am glad to learn that it wasn’t the case.?Thanks to the observance of AAPI Heritage Month, reminds us that not only we do not need to leave anything behind, instead, but we are also encouraged to remember and celebrate culture and traditions that are pivotal in shaping our upbringing and values, and to commemorate achievements and influences from fellow AAPIs brought to the country.?

Why is it important and what do you want to share with others?

For me, the AAPI month serves as an important reminder to always remember my roots - to be proud of my heritage, to remember some of the pivotal core values that helped nurture me to be the person I am today, to promote diversity and culture where we can appreciate and learn from each other.?There are many values and wisdom from our culture, for example, harmony, courtesy, kindness, self-discipline, and ways of approaching everyday things which I believe and cherish.??I hope that by practicing them, I can help others to appreciate our culture so that we can embrace diversity better, and promote more inclusion and togetherness.

What are some of your favorite traditions?

Traditional holidays are my favorites. These are times to gather and celebrate with family and friends, to enjoy good food and share laughter. My fondest memories from childhood were from the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival), where I helped my family clean up the house (to “sweep away bad fortune”) and decorated the walls with red banners (“Hui Chun”) with messages of good fortune. I enjoyed visiting relatives and friends where I could play with other children, eating delicious treats (dried fruit/candies) from the red snack box, and not to mention getting red envelopes from adults! I also love the Mid-Autumn festival because I got to light up lanterns with my cousin, and we would enjoy a good time chatting in a park and check out everyone else’s cool lanterns.

Continuing the Legacy - What do you want to leave behind?

I always find some of the core values and virtue in our culture invaluable so I want to continue living and sharing them with people in my life, and hopefully, others will appreciate and reciprocate them in their everyday life as well.