Trinh’s confidence eliminates judgment
Henry Trinh, guest writer
February 2, 2016
Are you Filipino? What are you? Plenty of people around ask me these questions frequently around school and even people I meet outside of McKinley High School. I tell them that I’m mixed with Vietnamese and French, although I don’t want people to classify me only by my race.
I want people to know that I am an athletic beach bum that hangs around the scorching sun next to the ocean whenever I have free time. People probably assume I’m Filipino because of my slightly tan skin tone for being out in the sun all day.
I love to swim, but I also like to surf and do other physical activities. Some of my favorite physical activities include hiking, outrigger canoe paddling and volleyball. Aside from all the beach activities, I love to eat. I can eat a whole fridge full of my favorite foods. Sushi, Korean barbeque and acai bowls are some of my favorites. I’m always down for a cold fruit smoothie as well which is my favorite type of drink.
Before I moved to Hawaii and became a beach bum, around more than half of my life ago, I grew up in the cities and countryside of Vietnam. I mostly isolated myself from the sun. I sat under the shade on an Asian stool given to me by my Auntie Karen. I moved to Hawaii and started to fall in love with the warm beaches surrounding the island. I started hanging out with a group of new friends that also enjoy the beach, and I adapted myself to a life in flip-flops, board shorts and some sunblock.
When I make new friends, I tend to show my Vietnamese, stereotypical side like talking in my Asian accent for humor. I sometimes even suggest to get some pho, which is a Vietnamese cultural dish, to give them a hint of who I am so I can avoid being asked, “Are you Filipino?”
The rest of my identity is already in me. Since I have a slight tan, wear board shorts and slippers all the time, people almost instantly assume I’m a beach bum. To show my athletic side, a lot of my peers know that I paddle for Healani Canoe Club and play volleyball almost twenty four-seven.
I’m confident in who I am; I don’t care if anyone judges or criticize me.
Anyways, is anyone down to go to the beach or grab food?