VIVIAN CHAN

Dear Readers,

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        I am a female born into a traditional patriarchal Chinese family. My dad is the prime institutionalized authority, And my mom is responsible for the management of the family. Moreover, my parents believe that older people should be superior to younger ones. Based on this culture, I was taught to be an obedient and filially subordinate daughter. I did everything my parents wanted and did my best all the time. My dad and mom came from working-class families. They have struggled and persisted. They always worked at night and sacrificed their rest and entertainment to earn more income, especially to afford a better living environment for me and my sibling. When I saw my parents’ coarse hands and wrinkled faces, I knew that they were giving their all. Through the traditional Chinese family values, when I was a kid, I promised them that I would gain an excellent job to reciprocate their great effort. Eventually, I graduated from community college in Hong Kong. Although I wanted to study something related to design and communication, I completed my certificate in Library and Information Management because my parents suggested it. After I graduated, I sought a full-time position and was accepted by a secondary school in Hong Kong. Yet I felt like a “working machine”; I had no enthusiasm for my job.

 

        On one of my days off, I was standing on the balcony enjoying the beautiful scenery and thinking deeply about my future. I asked myself, “What do you wish to accomplish? Do you want to just fulfill your parents’ expectations and stay in this field? Is that how you want to live your life?” I realized that processing information and entering data into a computer wasn’t my interest. I am not the kind of person who feels comfortable with inputting data day after day, without conversations with others. I was doing it to satisfy my parents, but I wanted to be true to myself and to my parents.

 

      After two years, I made a big decision, that I would talk with my parents about my desire to change my life. This was the first time I spoke up for myself and broke the traditional rules. I told them I had done research and found several places that had a multi-cultural, artistic atmosphere, and many opportunities. However, Seattle was the one I really liked, based on its living environment, public security, and diversity. My parents reminded me that I had promised to obey them. Yet, they realized that I wasn’t happy and I rarely followed my own soul. They understood that it was my life and that it was time for me to pursue my dream. The University of Washington is the place that can help me to reach my goal, and studying at North Seattle College has been the first step.

 

      In the summer of 2015, I started my new life at North Seattle College (NSC). I met classmates and instructors from many countries. I feel in love with having conversations with them because I could learn so much from their stories. Although Hong Kong is an international city, people barely share their stories or thoughts with others, especially with the one who older than you. Seattle is totally different from Hong Kong. People can chat easily, whether the age, relationship, and topic. I really love the atmosphere of sharing. Therefore, these two years I have joined different discussion groups at NSC, such as the Japanese Meeting Group and English Talk Time. Not only can I practice my speaking skill in a casual way, but also I can use these opportunities to enjoy the freedom of speech. Of course, my chats with friends about community design in their hometowns have interested me because I would like to improve the planning in Hong Kong’s community.

 

      My interest in the Community, Environment, and Planning Program began with my dad’s long-term severe knee pain. For three years, he was living in pain and could only move very slowly. The main reason is that Hong Kong has not emphasized assistance to people with disabilities. Once he walked everywhere easily, but because of his knee pain and his unfriendly government’s facilities, he lost his motivation and confidence. At that moment, I knew that I really felt interested in the design and planning field. I would like to apply my interest to build my major, so that, my ability will build a better community.

 

       I have chosen the Community, Environment, and Planning Program because it is an interdisciplinary subject, intersecting with reality on the ground. Learning design and planning at the same time, and then designing a community that provides a full atmosphere of visual art and green elements, is my dream. Mixing my art skills and the knowledge of planning, I believe I can help bring people together. At least, art helps me to recreate the relationship with my parents. We have more topics to chat on, such as the concepts of my works and the working process. Somehow, our relationship becomes closer and closer. I believe my case is not unique because there are many traditional Chinese families having the same situation. I believe that through building up an accessible space for people with disabilities we can decrease their daily burden. Meanwhile, the art and conversation spaces can heal their souls.

 

        As a Community, Environment, and Planning undergraduate student, I will work with multidisciplinary teams planning for every citizen and achieve a better society. If there is a comfortable and friendly community for citizens, it could help their lives become better and easier. A well-planned society could become a shelter for citizens, so they could feel someone still cares about them. Washington is a multi-cultural State; I intend to spend some time working with people of different nationalities to understand their needs and improve their communities’ planning. With this aim in my mind, I am currently studying Japanese. I would like to work with cross-cultural design and planning teams, especially with non-profit companies.

         

        I have been studying in Seattle for two years and I’m done with the Associate of Arts degree. Coming to Seattle to start my new major was a new journey in my life, not just for my personal growth, but also for my identity. Today, I am not an obedient daughter anymore, I feel confident and proud as a young Chinese female. I have broken the traditional Chinese family rules and speak up for myself. Whether we are male or female, older or younger, we should treat each other equality. Moreover, I can even study what I want. I will have the ability to lead others in the planning and building a better community.

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Thank you for reading,

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Vivian Chan

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