Embracing and Celebrating a Diverse Society

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “the U.S. population is much more multiracial and more diverse than what we measured in the past.” Furthermore, according to the Pew Research Center, “the number of Americans who identified as more than one race nearly doubled to 13.5 million people between 2010 and 2020, and did double or more in 34 states and the District of Columbia...”

I am a mixed-raced first-generation immigrant as a U.S. citizen, both from the majority race and a minority one. Sometimes, I feel as if I belong to all races and ethnicities, and yet, occasionally, I felt that I am in a neither-space. Perhaps many of us who have different backgrounds in our family trees could related to this ambivalent feeling. I am a male, and my socioeconomic status is reflective of the city of New York City. Since I cannot vote yet, my political orientation is yet to be determined. I am spiritual and cultural, and thus, I respect both religious beliefs but also agnosticism. I am artistic and musical, and my sexuality is my own decision. Combined together, my characteristics inform the world that these days, multiracial citizens and residents like me are not only unique but also increasingly existing in the U.S. This makes me part of the “big data” and powerful, but it also gives me some anxiety how other citizens may see me based on my identify that can embrace so many elements from various, perhaps even opposite traditions. Those who are complex like me can likely understand different perspectives, respect various traditions, support cross-cultural mentoring opportunities, have curiosities about people in the melting pot, and yet are non judgemental. These experiences and qualities have given me great insight into possible solutions for today's greatest challenges.

Although U.S. is well-known as a melting pot that welcome people from all walks of life, the reality can also be stark in reason years, particularly during the COVID era and inflations. Economic hardships and social determinants possibly lead to social conflicts. For example, in terms of biases, I have witnessed how stereotypes manifest themselves, especially towards those who share my background. For example, the Supreme Court has begun to debate the constitutionality of race-conscious college admissions. I believe that it is understandable that model minority applicants do so well, since the Asian culture emphasizes excellence in education. However, it is also important for colleges and universities to have diverse student populations. Therefore, I can understand both perspectives concerning this issue. I am open-minded to arguments of diversity but also faithful to how the founding fathers’ viewed and interpreted the constitution. Hence, in the modern world, when the U.S. population is ever-more diverse and multiracial, many perspectives may make this country ever more complex, especially given the two-party system. As a multi-racial immigrant, I welcome diverse opinions and perspectives to maximize the talents and values of people in our society.

The above rationales led me to becoming Next Gen Civic Fellow, where I participated in topical and important civic discussions, for three key reasons:

Firstly, I am passionate about supporting the fast-growing minorities that are becoming a majority, particularly Asian Americans, which I identify as. Despite being the fastest-growing ethnic/racial group in the country, we have become known as the so-called “model minority,” and there are many misconceptions about us. These include being quiet, being diligent, being excellent quantitatively, and lacking personalities. My grandparents’ experiences have taught me the importance of avoiding stereotyping or generalizing. For example, my grandmother was a top athlete who excelled in swimming, was the captain of her medical school’s basketball team, and was a Division I hand-baller. Instead of going into sports, she got ill when she was six years old and decided that she wanted to help patients in need. Rather than being a stereotypical student, her motivation was to save lives. This proved to me how the typecasting that is so common in our society now can completely miss the mark for some.

Second, I am extremely curious about ancient and modern history–relevant experience to finding the root cause of oppressions includes learning multiple languages around the world. Not only have I done very well on the Spanish Regents, I have also learned various ancient languages ranging from Hieroglyphics, Petroglyphs and Mayan languages, just to name a few. For example, recently, I revisited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the ancient sections with artifcats and antiques from China, Egypt, Greece, Indian, Japan, Mexico, Roman Empire, just naming a few cilvilizations in an alphabetical order impressed me trademedously. The beauty of history and craftsmanship was ever-lasting. The world has such endless wonders through languages and arts over thousands of years. I was also a member of the Met Opera Children’s Chorus to be able to fully appreciate the beauty of classical opera in Italian language but am appalled that the storylines degraded women in male-centric themes. I can honestly say that by learning history, I’ve learned there were very ugly truths about racial and class discrimination, but there were also brilliant artifacts and traditions around the world. We need to be able to face history and never let discriminations resurface in the 21st century. I hope that I can be an ambassador to help showcase how wonderful such a melting pot is, and how awful discriminating against others can hurt our society.

Finally, I am scientifically- and futuristically-minded. Rather than being one-dimensional or blindly accepting what exists, I use my curiosity to try to grasp the past and present. I believe that we cannot just dwell on what used to exist; we must understand the racial, ethnic, and gender tensions of today. Furthermore, we also need to plan for a society in which people can live in harmony, without the fear of becoming stereotyped, and can be ensured opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare via social determinants according to Healthy People 2020. 

Ferenc A. Zou is a Student at Brooklyn Technical High School and is on the Freshman Student Council. He graduated from the Anderson School and Chelsea Prep School. He also attended Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies, Hernando de Soto School, and the International Pre-School. Ferenc is an accomplished Vocalist, Composer and Instrumentalist, starting as a Child Performer. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, National Opera Center, High Honors Piano Recital at Steinway Hall, Miller Theatre, and Harvard. He speaks English, Spanish and Chinese, and has keen interests in Computer Science and Linguistics, including Hieroglyphics, Petroglyph, and Mayan languages.