December 29 – Defining Moment

Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

It was the moment that I realized that I had reached it. Where the career and other things were right there.

One memorable example was when I visited my aunt’s family (not my blood-related side) for the first time since I was 13.

Maybe it was politeness, but it felt…odd to be…so admired. They oohed and ahhed over my fierce independence in travel…and decisionmaking. My choice to live in the city of San Francisco, even though it’s barely half an hour (without traffic) from my parents’ home. And a career…about making things.

They say Asian families are incredibly competitive, comparing their children constantly with other families’ children. I never felt that way with my parents, because they didn’t find it necessary. Although not truly a defining moment…I felt bad as my cousin was compared to me.