\u27Where Are You From?\u27: The Asian American PNW University Experience Through Poetry

Asian American stories are underrepresented in mainstream media, leading to ignorance about the Asian population in America, to the perpetuation of stereotypes, and even to acts of violence against Asian people. Most contemporary Asian American media and representation centers on communities in California, and typically East Asian communities. Taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, this project seeks to expand Asian American representation via the lived experiences of Asian American university students in the Pacific Northwest. This project is a series of poetry, poetry reflections, and interview quotes collected and shared on a website, https://whereareyoufromproject.wordpress.com, for the public to have easy access and to share. The poems, reflections, and quotes come from 23 Asian American students and alumni from Western Washington University, Seattle University, University of Washington, and Pacific Lutheran University. These students come from a variety of backgrounds, heritages, and academic disciplines, with the aim to expose and explore the nuance that is often overshadowed by the umbrella label “Asian American.