My
Name is Vanessa: A Journey of Self-Discovery My name is Vanessa, and for as long as I can remember, I have struggled with my identity. Growing up, I often felt like I didn't fit in with those around me - neither in my family nor among my peers. My name was the first indicator of this; unlike my siblings, I carried an English name, which stood out like a sore thumb in our Chinese-speaking household. But as I got older, I came to embrace my unique name and began to understand that it represented something fundamental about who I was. I was bilingual, multicultural, and had an ever-expanding worldview that surpassed the insular boundaries of just one culture. My name was a symbol of my ability to straddle different worlds and find my place within them. As I began to delve deeper into my identity, I discovered new things about myself. I found that I had a passion for writing and a deep interest in culture and history. I also realized that I had a talent for connecting with people from different backgrounds, and that I thrived in diverse communities. Through these discoveries, I began to piece together a more complete picture of myself. I saw that my unique background had given me a set of skills and perspectives that were valuable in ways I had not previously realized. I began to embrace my differences and use them to my advantage, rather than seeing them as limitations. Today, I am proud of my name and all that it represents. It has been a journey of self-discovery, but one that has been well worth the effort. I believe that we all have something unique to offer the world, and embracing our differences is the first step towards realizing our full potential.