One Journey – Patricia Csank

This article shares a perspective of what AAPI month means to one woman. It recognizes our diverse AAPI heritages; the importance of sharing journeys as a community in America; and our responsibility to teach the rising generation respect for those who came before them and the joy of exploring what they bring to our broader society.

For me, AAPI month is about recognizing our diverse Asian and Pacific Island heritages; sharing the journeys our families and we made to shape the community we have as Americans; and teaching our youngest generation to respect those who came before them and to explore what they bring to our broader society.  So in this spirit, I’ll share.

I’m Asian-American: Korean on my mother’s side and Irish on my father’s.  My mother immigrated to America in 1976 shortly after marrying my father, a U.S. Air Force airman.

My journey and who I am really starts with my mother’s journey.  I’m the eldest daughter, so was responsible for a lot of the “household ops”, including caring for my younger brother and sister.  My siblings and I joke about our roles in the family: my brother is the golden child (the only son), my sister is the free-spirit (the baby) and I’m my parent’s retirement plan (privileged!).  

As much as family and tradition helped shape our identities, my mother’s love for her adopted country led her to dampen some of the more overt aspects of her culture.  We didn’t learn to speak Korean, and were taught to stay quiet, mind our own business and generally “don’t bring trouble”.  She did what she thought was best for us because she wanted us to fit in, and not experience some of the attitudes she had experienced.

“..as much as family and tradition helped shape our identities, my mother’s love for her adopted country led her to dampen some of the more overt aspects of her culture...”

As with all parents, she had a vision for our futures.  For my brother: a doctor and married (he’s a very successful engineer and happily single).  My sister: a movie star and shamelessly beautiful (she’s a veteran’s service officer and yes, shamelessly beautiful).  For me: no need to work but be smart and married to a doctor (lawyer is acceptable but not a military man) with children.  I served 25 years in the military, married a Swiss person I met in a rainforest—he did not serve in the military, mom— and worship our adopted son.  Our journeys continue with the strength, character, and hope from our family and friends.

Patricia Csank with her siblings and in her U.S. Army uniform

As we celebrate AAPI this month, I hope we all take the time to share a little of who we are, our stories, and our wishes. It’s wonderful to hear the brilliantly colorful stories from others in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community – there is so much cultural and generational diversity throughout our society.  Our rising AAPI generation is particularly wonderful to hear from as their journeys and perspectives are fresh while still echoing others.  We all have opportunities to enjoy and learn from this generation of young people, whether AAPI or another background, and I hope they will use their voices to speak out loud.

As we celebrate AAPI this month, I hope we all take the time to share a little of who we are, our stories, and our wishes. It’s wonderful to hear the brilliantly colorful stories from others in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community – there is so much cultural and generational diversity throughout our society.