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Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

Abstract

This article explores the perspective of a Hmong student’s experience in high school in the context of patriotism and citizenship. Growing up and receiving Citizenship Awards, he noticed the contrast with the Citizenship Room at his high school. Citizenship was given through these awards and is taken away in the Citizenship Room. This article critiques the author’s nostalgia for high school as he takes on a different perspective and asks himself “How did being Asian affect my experience?” and “Would I still have nostalgia for high school if the Citizenship Room was constantly part of my experience?”

Comments

Kevin Xiong is a Junior majoring in American Studies and Educational Studies at Macalester College from North Minneapolis, MN. As a Hmong, first-generation college student, he is passionate about college access and increasing accessibility of first-generation college students on Macalester’s campus. He was recently awarded with Macalester’s 2017 Summer Live It Fund to continue his work with college access by engaging with parents of first-generation college students to understand the college application process. As a Bonner Community Scholar, board member of Macalester’s Hmong organization - Ua Ke, and the College-Access coordinator in the Civic Engagement Center, he is dedicated to working with the local communities in the Twin Cities.

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