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Malina Keo มาลีน่า แก้วสว่าง

มาเป็นเพื่อนกัน —

procured by Nathan Yang

Hi, my name is Malina Keo (มาลีน่า แก้วสว่าง in Thai, ມາລີນາ ແກ້ວສະຫວັນ in Lao, and 柯美林 in Chinese) and I am of Central Thai and Northern Lao descent. Being raised around such a culturally diversified environment has taught me to value the linguistic side of things. In tandem with my fluency in American-English, the Central-dialect of Thai and the Luang Prabang-dialect of Lao, I am also semi-fluent in Korean and Spanish. Alongside my multicultural background and collectivist upbringing, I strive to pursue my passion of becoming a plastic surgeon. Like most Asian-American families, My family has taught me to approach things with a collective mindset. Since we are people of color, specifically Asian, thinking in this mindset benefits us as working Asian-Americans for the societal betterment of not just me, but everyone. Contrariwise to contributing to my family’s betterment, another purpose for this vocational path would be to better the financial and entrepreneurial sustainability of my career and future.

I was raised in a collectivized household of Thai and Lao cultural values. Being a female Southeast Asian student in the American school system, it was not only a social challenge, but a social strife. Whether it was the uniqueness of the cuisine I stowed in my sewn lunchbox or the way I styled my hair, just like most Asian Americans, I was not far from a “tourist attraction.” One of my goals would be to show that being a Asian woman doesn’t negate my potential. In spite of all the difficulties, using the love I have for my culture that some may dub as a “disadvantage” to fuel my ambition for success, brings me a guiding sense of honor. In my toddler years, my mother would always fetch me and my sister in the midst of the annual Marylanders Songkran Festival held in the urban district of Bethesda. It never failed to emphasize the beauty and rooted history of Thai culture. Through the welcoming atmosphere and the smiling faces of ‘khon’ dancers, this particular festival undoubtedly connected me to my Asian American community. Thus exemplifying the historical importance and cultural value that my mother continues to remind me of until this day. That although we may be one, we will always have our own path. Not only do I cherish my heritage through food and cultural practices, but I cherish the path that my ancestors have set for. Oftentimes amidst my efforts at Starbucks, the application of multilingualism was a factor of normalcy. To aid customers multilingually and positively was nothing but a workplace delight. This sort of cultural notion gave me the chance to connect with my Asian American community whilst contributing to my family as any high school student would want. This concludes the existent unity that we as a Asian-American community hold dearly to our hearts.