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Going to UCSD with a population of over 26,000 undergraduates who are complete strangers to you can be rather overwhelming for first-generation college students like Amy that have no idea what to expect from an institution like this. For many of us, entering college challenges ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and develop the courage necessary to become an adult. Thankfully, my dear friend and former roommate Amy Sui, had a really significant impact on helping me settle into a new environment. With a zest for life, Amy demonstrated random acts of kindness to me and opened up her heart to everyone in our building on the very first day we all met. We became roommates in our second year of undergrad, and I was able to overcome my insecurities by opening myself up to learn more about this strange world.

1. On First Day of College "Feels"

Amy is the kind of woman who has always been brave enough to share her lived experience as an open-minded, queer, Asian American. Coming from a low-income background and a multicultural household, Amy divulged to me her struggles of what it was like growing up without much financial stability and not being able to live a “normal” American childhood. She arrived at UCSD without a clue as to what to expect since her family had never intended for Amy to go to college in the first place let alone prepare her for university.

Taught by her Korean-Chinese father, Amy’s nontraditional ideals stemmed from Taoist philosophies and over 30+ years of strict vegetarianism due to their family’s religious values. Amy’s Taiwanese mother sent her away to an after school program at a young age where she was able to encompass the “ABC’s” of being a full-fledged American born Chinese citizen, without the accent of someone who never learned how to speak Mandarin. However, Amy was unable to immerse herself in an environment where she could freely play with other children as she worked at her parent’s restaurant to be their resident translator. This prevented her from effectively communicating with other kids her age at the time and led to constant misunderstandings. 

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Over time, Amy’s unique perspective on life allowed me to better understand her introverted self. She encouraged me to overcome my own insecurities with meeting new people and also confided in me that her seemingly outgoing personality was actually a coping mechanism to overcome her social anxiety.

It amazes me how Amy’s extensive knowledge of vegan food reflects well on her cooking abilities. She was earnest at creating vegan dishes on a college budget, so Amy patiently guided me on how to cook a cost-effective version of healthy food that was plant-based, full of nutrition, and super easy to make. One of my fondest memories from college was the curry potato vegetable stew dish that Amy made with me. I was shocked at how tasty vegetarian food and vegan desserts could be and rather intrigued by her creativity to have a go at this route alone in college. You could tell that each ingredient she cooked with seemed like it was primarily influenced by Amy’s cultural upbringing. 

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With that being said, almost everything Amy has ever struggled to overcome can ultimately be traced back to how talented she is in terms of finding the best alternative for whatever challenge comes her way. Amy provided me with endless encouragement to get involved with as many on-campus events as possible, to check out weird clubs together, and instilled the confidence I needed to “network” my way into getting the job I have today. She attended my underground dance rehearsals, gave me advice during delicate times, and always had a positive spin on circumstances that were outside of my control. The best part about going on these adventures with Amy was seeing her prevail, despite knowing the painful journey she has had to overcome throughout her life. In college, we think meeting new people is a common fear, but it’s how we personally overcome this fear that builds character. 

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