My first year studying overseas in America not only opened my eyes to the diversity of culture and people from all around the world, but also gave me reason to reflect on who I am. Being surrounded by people from different nations and cultures for the first time made me realize that being Singaporean and being Chinese are core parts of my personal identity. Though I have many friends here in Boston, I cannot help feeling like a “stranger;” each time I go back to Singapore, I feel a strong sense of truly belonging. These struggles as an international student made me wonder how much more difficult it must be for internationally adopted children who, being born in one country but raised in another, must find themselves in a bind when defining who they are and where they belong. Having been given the opportunity to choose our research topics in my class “Global Documentary,” I thus wrote the following essay which is an exploration into what some of these identity struggles look like for internationally adopted children.
GAYLE TAN is a rising sophomore who is majoring in Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Born and raised in a country known as the “little red dot,” she is very proud to call Singapore her home. She would like to thank all teachers past and present, especially Professor Milanese, for imparting their valuable expertise and for molding her into a better writer. She would also like to thank her ever-supportive parents, twin sister Grace, and friends in Boston and back in Singapore who constantly encourage and motivate her to strive for excellence.