Bouncing Back

“Growing up feeling isolated and even now as a college athlete, I still face the challenges of being an AA athlete playing a predominantly white sport. BB provides an opportunity to share my stories so the next generation of AA athletes can find comfort and feel a little less alone. The creative writing field needs more AA narratives and I hope to continue to explore how being an AA athlete can change our outlook on our identities and how our identities affect our experiences.”

“Ever since I was very young, sports have shaped my life. As an Asian American who plays soccer, I often face discrimination, but through it, I have learned the importance of advocacy. Bouncing Back resonates with me, promoting inclusivity and support for Asian athletes. I want to create belonging and challenge stereotypes within the sports world through this platform.”

“As an ABC swimmer from the Midwest, I felt very underrepresented in its swimming community as there weren’t many other Asians, especially as I got older. I noticed that this was usually because they felt like they were at a physical disadvantage or forced to focus on their academics. I was also often persuaded to quit by adults around me due to the same reasons. I want to join Bouncing Back to inspire Asians to pursue their athletic journey despite any challenges they might face along the way.”

“On my swim team I felt discriminated against by teammates, leading me to become conscious about identity and why it is important to celebrate it. Now, as a Chinese student studying abroad, I think this is more important than ever.”

“An Asian athlete myself, I know how difficult it can be to find a place in the world of sports. Between the chaos of training, school, and competition, it’s hard to balance your life and can often feel like there is nobody who can relate to you. Growing up, I was fortunate to find a community that helped me navigate the world of sports, and I would have loved the opportunity and support Bouncing Back provides to other Asian athletes just like me.”

“Sports have always been a big part of my outlook on life. Growing up in HK, I always played sports in order to keep busy, and overtime it just became my life. However, I felt as if sports were only extracurricular, because in the media Asians don't usually play sports at a high level. This has held me back from achieving my full potential. Bouncing Back helps other Asian athletes that may be struggling with their commitment to sports realize it is possible to achieve greater things.”

“In the past I have faced discrimination in sports because of my identity, and I just want to do something about it. I want more people to understand that race doesn’t affect athleticism and make a change in things I am passionate about.”

“As I have come to high school I have been able to become more in touch with my Korean heritage, and I want to help other Asian athletes and people embrace who they are. Sports have also been a big part of my life growing up so I feel like this is a platform that I  feel very familiar with.”