Ellie Cheung is a Chinese-American nurse in her twenties, living in New Jersey. Growing up, she wrestled with her cultural identity, but came to embrace her heritage over the years.
Looking back today, she feels incredibly grateful for her family’s support and sacrifices, and hopes to pass down Chinese language and cooking down to her kids in the future.
Read our full interview with Ellie below.
Growing Up
When did your family arrive in America?
My dad was born in Fuzhou, went to Hong Kong for a bit, and then came to America when he was 12 or 13 years old. He had his middle school and high school experience here.
Back in the ‘80s, he was the only Asian kid in his whole school. It was hard for him – he didn’t know the language, and had to find ways to assimilate into the culture.
My mom came here by herself when she was 18 years old, with a single suitcase. There was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come to the US so she took it. She came here alone, did it for her family, and was so brave.
It’s very common for immigrants to come to the U.S. and make money to send back to your family back home.
How do you feel, thinking back on your family’s experiences?
I always feel very privileged, because going back to my career, I am a nurse now. Growing up, my goal was always to find a career where I could financially support my family and myself.
Both my parents, and my grandparents, sacrificed a lot for me to get to this point. I feel like it’s all of our accomplishments because I wouldn’t be here without them.
What was your experience like growing up?
I feel like it’s very common for children of immigrants like me to feel like they’re not American enough, but also that they’re not fully Chinese enough either.
Back then, Chinese culture was not considered glamorous or trendy. I didn’t grow up in the most diverse neighborhood. In middle and high school, I would often feel ashamed about that part of my identity, so I would try to become more Americanized.
Compared to my parents’ experience though, it was easier for someone like me, growing up here. Yes, I did have to go to ESL, but it was easier for me to adapt because I was always surrounded by American culture.
Cultural Identity
How did your perspectives about your cultural identity evolve over time?
At some point, while growing up, and seeing my parents struggle, I thought, why am I ashamed about this part of myself? People from my culture are so hardworking, so self-sacrificing. Seeing Asian Americans represented on social media as well, who were making it despite coming from the same place as I did, also gave me more confidence.
I feel like we’re creating our own identity. Chinese American IS one type of identity, and we’re embracing both cultures in a way.

Do you feel different when you navigate one culture/language vs the other? If so, how?
I feel like I’m a different person when I speak Fuzhounese! I’m more direct and aggressive. The vocabulary is a bit more practical. There’s no room for beating around the bush. When I speak Fuzhounese, I feel funnier as a person because I just say what’s on my mind.
When I speak English, I’m more accommodating. Maybe it’s because I have a more extensive vocabulary compared to what I know in Chinese, but it feels like there’s more room to express myself.
I think that kids who speak different languages often code-switch. Sometimes there’s a term in another language that can encompass an experience better than any word in English can.
Holidays + Traditions
How did you celebrate cultural holidays growing up?
As a family, we celebrate every single holiday the same way, whether it’s Thankgiving or the Mooncake Festival – cooking dishes, eating together. On Lunar New Year, we also give out red envelopes and pay respects to family members by going to their house, bringing food and fruits.
Tell us about any traditions that you would like to preserve or pass on, if any.
I want my kids some day to speak Fuzhounese, but it’s unfortunate because it is a dying language. If you go to China, even if you go to the Fuzhou province, nobody speaks Fuzhounese anymore. They speak Mandarin, because it’s mandated in schools. But for me, being Fuzhounese is part of my identity.
I would love to also pass down Chinese cooking down to my kids, and to keep that part of my culture alive. And lastly, I want my family to be a part of their lives, and hopefully that can naturally help to pass down the Fuzhounese language too.
Superpowers
Lastly, how is being multicultural a superpower for you?
Being multicultural helps me recognize and embrace nuances in others. I love this because it helps me connect more deeply with people — and being able to meaningfully connect with others truly feels like a superpower!