Young

Learning

Unknowing at times

Shy

My childhood had all of these

Like a cherry blossom waiting to come up,

it took me time to be who I am today

My childhood was different.

coming from immigrant parents,

I never owned what other kids owned

those thick Tonka trucks that one thrusts back and forth

that new Transformer

those new kicks on their feet

that football, basketball. or baseball

Instead

I owned

used books, chairs, tables

and love from my family

I accepted all of that and took it in stride

In my mind, what we had was fantastic!

But then came school

I came to a realization that things weren’t as good as I once thought

So shy, I didn’t really talk to anyone

Only friends were my cousins.

I remember trying to make friends

No one wanted that Asian kid to play with them

Not welcome

Not accepted

Happiness went to sadness

set aside like a phone call from that one ex.

I thought it was because I didn’t have

those Tonka trucks

that Transformer

those new kicks

that ball

I believed it was because I was different

Not white or had brown or blond hair

Eyes not the same

Down my tender cheek, tears trickled, feeling torn

I wallowed in despair

I was a dam with a hole in it, leaking with sorrow

Determination from that point on

to make friends.

Days later

I was playing with action figures

even kickball.

with the same friends that rejected me

To this day

still friends with those same friends

My childhood changed me

For the better

More confident than ever

More outgoing

More vocal

Result of being who I am

My entire life

I’ve gone through adversity

be it from the color of my skin

my culture

my character

I’ve gone above all the haters

and am better off now than I was before.

Now, even though I may not have

those snapbacks

that game console

those Nikes

that girl

I do have

my family

Courage

Honor

Compassion

Respect

And above all

Love