Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Ye.
Miranda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I can start by saying that at times for me, it seems as though I know as much about myself as you do — which is most likely very little. Just as you happen to stumble upon this article, I am simultaneously discovering who I am as I try to put my story into words. My story, compared to others, doesn’t really seem to earn the title of being a “story.” However, I have realized that everyone’s journey is a story unique to them, and is worthy of being told. My story is one that is fitting for a current Gen Z student. The daughter of two first-generation Chinese immigrants, I have grown to redefine what my personal meaning of an “American Dream” is. And through countless years of personal reflection, my goal has always been to remain true to my values — whether it be through activism, my work in the community, or how I carry myself. I strive to build my character upon candidness and empathy, and take any opportunity that I have to support marginalized groups or those who are traditionally underrepresented. It has been gratifying and unifying to see the power that the youth and Gen Z are rightfully claiming in society today, and I am glad to be a part of this generation mobilizing to make changes starting from their own communities.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey hasn’t been without challenges, and I will most likely continue to face them since I still have much more to experience. My main struggle has been maintaining my mental health and motivation. Being surrounded by such ambitious and oftentimes competitive peers has resulted in a lot of self-doubt and general burnout. The city I have grown up in is known for being extremely high-achieving, and this, along with said and unsaid pressures to succeed from my parents, has led to unhealthy amounts of internalized emotions. The majority of these emotions revolve around the critical ideas of “success” and intelligence. It seems that in this society, your worth is determined by quantification: test scores, salary, number of achievements, etc. I have always pushed myself to my mental limits and even now, try to overwork myself in the hopes that doing more will make me more worthy of a person. Luckily, this generation has proven that it extends compassion to those who are struggling with mental health. I have become increasingly self-aware, and reaching out to others going through the same emotions has allowed for me to actively prioritize taking care of myself. Doing more things that I am passionate about or simply enjoy — meditation, music, cooking — has given me the outlet I need to decompress. I know that it is a common issue for children of immigrant parents to not have a necessarily supportive and understanding environment in which they are comfortable discussing seemingly “taboo” subjects, such as mental illness and mental health. Personally, it has been discouraging for me to see that my parents don’t know how to communicate their emotional support or just how to genuinely talk about feelings. This is why I can’t stress enough the importance of making sure that you’re not falling into the trap of stigmas around mental health. I, myself, am guilty of feeling shame when I am not performing at my best due to sadness and anxiety; I feel as though I am falling behind or weak because of these emotions. However, everyone is enough regardless, and I have taken this mindset with me as I will inevitably be needing to overcome more obstacles.
Please tell us about Dear Asian Youth.
I am on the national team of Dear Asian Youth, which is a youth-led nonprofit organization and online platform aiming to uplift marginalized communities through education, activism, and celebration. Dear Asian Youth (or DAY), with its vibrant and cohesive feed, was something that instantly caught my eye while I was scrolling through Instagram. My curiosity and excitement peaked with every new post I saw touching on topics such as the Asian experience, unity among BIPOC, and various campaigns (like for Pride Month and AAPI Month). With life seeming pretty isolated due to it being summer with quarantine orders still in place, I knew that DAY was the perfect opportunity for me to express myself. To my surprise, applications happened to be rolling, giving me what I felt was a quintessential chance to articulate my desire to be a part of the organization. I am now a projects manager, and work with 100+ talented and ambitious Asian youths to create change in a community focused on the intersection of empowerment and inclusion. Growing up as a second-generation Chinese American, I struggled to truly develop an identity inspired by my culture and heritage. Dear Asian Youth has provided me with a platform for myself and the Asian community to feel welcomed and heard — a resource I wish I had when I was younger. DAY has introduced me to so many valuable relationships with passionate Asian youth across the nation, while also giving me a greater sense of self as I navigate through what it means to be Asian. DAY has garnered a current following of over 50K on Instagram and has established 100+ chapters globally. We have reached over 3.1 million social media accounts, held 17 webinars/workshops, and have published 200+ works of literature. As a projects manager, I contribute my ideas to turn into digital publications and events such as webinars, conferences, and more. Additionally, the projects team is multi-faceted in marketing these events, tracking our growth, and pitching these ideas to members of the community and for collaboration with other organizations. I have personally spoken at one of DAY’s October Webinars: “How to ACE Online School.” This webinar was meant for students who were feeling the common stressors of doing online school during a global pandemic: lack of motivation, anxiety, and general uncertainty. Through this webinar, we hoped to curate some of the best advice from the DAY community and from students who have already had a long career in online school. For me, this webinar was an example of the impact that a resource such as DAY has on those looking for guidance in such a fast-paced world.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Although I am still in the process of learning and growing right now, if I had to go back a few years/start over, I would have given myself more grace and room to make mistakes.
Contact Info:
- Website: dearasianyouth.org
- Email: mirandaye68@gmail.com
- Instagram: @dearasianyouth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-ye-b6699a18a
Image Credit:
James Edward
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