21: Managing Expectations as an Asian Millennial ft. Natalie Cheung

Natalie from Yellow Bee Pod joins us to share her experience transitioning out of her civil engineering job to an outspoken supporter of Asian identity and women in STEM. We talk about what our parents’ expectations of us are growing up, our own expectations of what our life will look like, and how those expectations have changed as we approach milestones in our adulthood.

Highlights:

Natalie kept her new job secret for six months before telling her momKeeping your career plans to yourselves because it's easier than explaining it to your immigrant parentsWhat we thought being an adult would be like versus what it’s actually likeWhat emigrating was like for our moms when they were youngWe open up a safe space to discuss what we know and what we should know about Asian incels

Takeaways:

Turning away from the expectations of your parents can happen at any time in your lifeOur parents never had a open-communication relationship with their parents, so it’s up to us to initiate that as our generation’s contributionGood grades, good university, and good job does not always equal happily ever afterOur immigrant parents craved stability but did not have it and now they want that stability for usMedian warps representation of all groups, whether it’s religion, incels, or our own communities

Resources:

Natalie's Yellow Bee PodYellow Bee Pod (Instagram)Rice to Meet You Pod with Evelyn Mok and Nigel Ng (Instagram)Never Have I Ever (Netflix)To All the Boys I’ve Loved BeforeAsian America: The Ken Fong Podcast

Enjoyed this episode? Share with a friend! Hit subscribe to get the latest episodes. Leave us a comment or review and let us know your favourite episode!

---- 

Tell Kristy & Angie what cringy and uncomfortable conversation topics you want to listen to!

Email us, DM, or Record a 60-second voice message. Send us an audio message by clicking here!

Instagram @shitwedonttellmom 

Email: [email protected]