I want people to know-
That I can see them tug on their eyes like I’m not a foot away,
That I can hear them whisper, “Ching- chong” in amusement,
That I can feel them shake with laughter,
That I can taste solidarity, bitterly

I want people to know-
That I don’t hunch over books until the moon fades away,
That I don’t want to major in chemistry or be an astrophysicist,
That I don’t succeed in every class because I’m Asian,
That I don’t want to live my life in a lab or a library

I want people to know-
That I want, I want to be different.
I want to break this image, an image of smarts,
A nerdy conception, a girl with glasses and a textbook in hand

I want people to know-
That I can do more than solve imaginary numbers or memorize the periodic table,
That I can walk beyond my safe room and close the door with a bang,
That I can dictate my career, my life, and my choices, my goals,

I want people to know-
That I’m Chinese, and nothing more.