While I was only three years of age when the post-events of September 11, 2001, occurred, I was old enough to realize something was not right. My father was on active duty in the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq. In Iraq, the unfolding of a powerful mentality was revealed. My father left the military a couple of years after returning to the States, leaving behind a story that was too traumatic to share; however, when I was old enough to know, he disclosed his personal experiences, but I wasn't prepared for the consequences of knowing what he went through. With the powerful stories came powerful waves of emotion, PTSD made my father angry, scared, and paranoid. My mother, sister and I did not know what to do except pray for peace in the house. Being a young child, I didn’t quite understand how a person could go through so much or how someone could carry so much guilt and various emotions outside of the ones I previously listed. Seeing my father take frequent visits to the VA hospital and accept what they had to give was eye-opening to me. The United States encourages citizens to serve but uses very few resources to take care of those who do. With that, as a young child, I followed my father. I saw the world through his eyes and am slowly breaking out of the mold I was shaped into. I found myself reacting in similar ways as he would because of his PTSD, it made me feel upset and frustrated. Reacting “out of line” felt dehumanizing and encased in a bubble of emotion, where any small push could cause a chain reaction and close any communication I have regarding my feelings. These occurrences allowed me to reflect on how I could do better; stopping the generational trauma around me has become a new goal of mine. However, seeing these events unfold allowed me to think of what could be done to protect veterans with PTSD, as well as their family members. From my experience, awareness and understanding is important. Listening to and sharing the resources that are available to veterans is the first step to improvement. I would do the same for family members while also using my experience to connect and let them know they are not alone. I would pursue more opportunities to advocate for care, and not just encourage individual therapy but family therapy as well with the inclusion of free mental health screenings; starting a student-led group with the main goal of family enrichment is a good possible resource, as students, spouses, and everyone involved in this continuous experience deserves support. Families tend to be silenced when it comes to the effects of aiding one with PTSD making the recovery difficult. However, providing a resource group for students and families allows those to seek out help at their own time and comfort with the addition of family coaching aimed towards those with a family member with PTSD. Finally, I would like to share things that can be done to assist the individual with PTSD. Sometimes the simplest things can trigger someone with PTSD, such as loud noises or even unkept rooms. I would use this knowledge to provide tips to instructors who could create a curriculum to help individuals with PTSD. However, these efforts will only scratch the surface, as the journey to helping those with PTSD is a long and deep-rooted battle. Once in motion, other steps can be taken to build permanent resources and a stronger support system.

My interest in Asian studies has stemmed from my own culture which I have limited knowledge of. My mother immigrated to the United States with the knowledge of her pregnancy with me. After her stories of the Philippines, I wanted to create the unknown comfort that my mother knew. For this reason, I am currently working to achieve my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. When building my degree plan, I chose courses that will support my dream for the history of Filipino-Americans in America to be displayed in a museum and showcase how much of an impact we have not only in America but in the Philippines. My mother initially did not understand why I chose a random degree that few have heard of, but I was inspired because of my mother not wanting to share her stories of the Philippines because of the struggles she experienced both in her country and when she immigrated. She always worked and spent little time with family, continuing to do so to ensure my sisters and I had the opportunities she did not. However, what she shared were a few stories, and I wanted to hear more and continue to be inspired to learn more. Creating a museum exhibit showcasing the Filipino Culture would consist of the Philippines before colonization, the language, beliefs, and showcase how native Filipinos interacted with other ethnicities besides their own (trading, storytelling, and governments). This will eventually turn into modernization and exhibit how much the Philippine culture evolved, their experiences and influences, while unveiling the life of Filipinos moving to the Americas and including the struggles: assimilating into a new environment, difficulty fitting in and finding a niche group to be with based on ethnicity, and the expectations of being an American- Filipino. The role to fill is great and some may not see it as realistic, but I am determined to continue my studies at The University of Texas at El Paso. I know I can showcase my culture and make an impact not only for myself but for my culture and those that want to know more.