How might someone describe me I wonder; Fil-Am? Meztisa? Ethnically ambiguous? I know what I am for certain and that is 2nd generation Filipina American. Proudly. My mom grew up in both Manila and Oas, Bicol, immigrating to the U.S. in 1997. My dad is Caucasian American of Northern European heritage. Both mom and dad provide me tremendous support for schooling, extra curriculars, free time to allow free thought and introspection and gratefully, plenty of opportunities to be a part of Filipino culture. Many trips to the Philippines to see the natural beauty, historical richness and the not so beautiful parts of a country with remarkably resilient and often very economically poor people instilled in me an understanding of a world apart from the privilege of a childhood in the United States. Family in the Philippines greet me with love and a warm welcome unparalleled, every-time, without fail. They ask with tremendous interest about life in the U.S.; school, boys, dance, politics and always, what I plan to do with my life. It is this last question in particular that stuck with me on the flights back home. These questions helped me develop my appreciation that as a young Fil-Am woman I represent the half of my heritage that is Filipino; the adoring family that love me, root for me, ask about me, pray for me from 6,700 miles away. It triggered a drive in my soul to create a life of success so that whenever I return or when mom is talking to them on the phone, they know that I am doing something that will provide a source of pride and joy for those that love me and whom I very much love in return. And just as importantly, I am a source of pride for the Philippines. With that kind of support I have been able to succeed in school as senior high school student body president, student tutor lead, AAPI leader and Homecoming queen. I have been on the Happy Valley city youth council now for 3 years. In dance I am a top 10 national dancer in the Velocity Las Vegas National Convention having danced with celebrities on stage, an MVA plus dancer and am professionally represented by a Los Angeles based talent agency. In my pre-dance life I was grateful that hard work lead me to be an All-Around Oregon State Champion in gymnastics two years in a row. This past month I am very excited to have been accepted to USC among other universities so will be able to start my future in finance, business and entrepreneurship this fall. Aside from these hard fought successes, my true pride lies in that of being the loving daughter in a family of both Filipino and American heritage. The expectations to be a leader, successful in school and family are outwardly discussed and quietly implied when gathering with Filipino family. Listening to the stories around the kitchen table of the successes of fellow Filipino family and friends that seem to bloom from otherwise seemingly impossible circumstances provides me real incentive to meet a high standard. I do these things for my own growth and future without doubt, but I also do them for my extended Filipino family who live in beautiful rural Oas, the busy city of Manila and here in the United States as well. My desire to be the best representative of my Filipino heritage and family has always been and will continue to be the fire that fuels my success as a proud Filipina-American woman.