Katie (she/her) is a Chinese Caucasian American middle school student! She sat down to answer some of our questions — keep reading on to learn more about her.

Let’s begin with the most popular question. What’s your favorite food?

I love sushi or anything that I bake!

What sparks joy within you?

I love spending time with my family and friends and playing sports; I love volleyball, synchronized swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, etc. Other things that give me joy include: helping others/community service, public speaking, shopping, piano, beaches, and summer! And of course, Asian Girls Ignite and advocating for Asian women and girls!

What is capturing your interest these days?

I am a current eighth-grade student at Graland Country Day School, so school is capturing most of my time! I will start as a freshman at Colorado Academy this fall. I also love synchronized swimming. I have been a synchro swimmer for almost five years and have a dance background. Being on the volleyball court alongside my friends is also one of my interests, especially as I continue to dedicate more time to play. Outside of school, I love spending time with friends and family and playing the piano. I am also passionate about social justice and women’s rights.

Is there anything you’re currently working on?

Currently, I am working on a project advocating for girls’ education. Through volunteering with at-risk girls, I hope to spread awareness about the importance of girls being educated. I am also aiming to elevate the voices of Asian women and people of color through sharing my experiences as an Asian girl and my involvement with AGI. I am continuing to learn more about the history of Asians and hate against Asian women, as well as what we can do to slow the spread of hate. By learning more about Asian women in the community, hate against Asian women, and ways to inspire the community to be allies, I am continuing to take a stand for Asians’ and womens’ rights.

Name a role model and/or name a woman in your life who you look up to and tell us why.

I look up to my mom. She is always tirelessly working for our family and I respect her commitment to never take the easy road. I am also very inspired by her work as a civil rights attorney to battle gender and racial discrimination in schools. Her journey for a more equal world through her job and actions have truly influenced how I view the world and inspire me to create change.

I have so many inspirational women role models, I would not be able to write about them all. However, one of my biggest role models is Olivia Rodrigo. She spreads the message about women's rights and the rights of people of color through her music. She has continually talked about diversity and how important it is for her, as an Asian woman, to be seen performing alongside so many inspirational celebrities. She also recently received the Billboard Woman of the Year 2022 Award, and is continuing to spread the message about women's rights and those of Asian women!

What’s your favorite part about being an AAPI girl?

I love being an AAPI girl because there is so much for me to learn, both about myself and about my heritage. My family history is so rich, and I especially have loved learning about my grandparents’ immigration experiences as Asian immigrants. By learning more about my family roots, I have been able to see so many connections to myself and where I am currently. I also love the connection between myself and other AAPI girls and women. There is a sense that we understand each other, no matter what our family and experiences are, and that is so powerful for me.

How do you like to celebrate or care for yourself and others?

To care for myself, I love spending time with my friends and family. It is so important for me to make time in my life for the people who matter most. I have always loved teaching and advocacy. Through many opportunities, I have been able to have a glimpse into what it means to teach others through teaching my class, leading classes and discussions, and helping classmates. As I have grown up, I have realized that there are so many girls who are not able to achieve their dreams due to lack of education.

To continue to care for others, I am becoming more interested in tutoring impoverished girls to help them realize their full potential. I will use my love of educating and learning to help them through their journeys.

What does AGI mean to you?

AGI means so much to me. I originally joined in October 2020, just to see what it would be like, and it has totally transformed my life. Before I joined AGI, I did not have as strong of a connection to my Asian heritage. However, after connecting with so many girls and women who were so proud of their heritage, I learned to accept it and be an advocate. AGI has provided me with a community of women and girls who are supportive of everything that I do and accepting of everyone there. We collectively lift up our Asian heritage to better each other.

After joining AGI, I began to realize the depth of my Asian heritage and the importance of being an advocate for Asian women and girls everywhere. I have truly found my voice and became so passionate about advocating for the rights of women and girls of color. I am so connected with everyone at AGI, and I believe that we have all collectively learned to advocate for our rights and stand up for ourselves together!

What’s your favorite AGI memory or event?

I have so many AGI memories that it is so hard to choose! But I would have to say that my favorite was when we were able to talk with an author about a book that she had written: We Are Inspiring: The Stories of 32 Inspirational Asian American Women. Her book talked about many inspirational Asian women and how they defied stereotypes in the careers that they chose. This was so powerful for me because I was able to imagine so many different careers for myself and other Asian girls everywhere. However, I have also LOVED our boba meetings, mochi donuts, rock climbing, hiking, speaking on panels and in videos, and fun Lunar New Year meetings and planning!

What would you want to ask or know about other AAPI girls?

I would love to know more about AAPI girls’ experiences growing up as Asian. I truly believe that by elevating and accepting our experiences, we can grow stronger. I would also love to know more about how AAPI girls feel growing up Asian in America and why they believe it is important.

Is there an organization or project you’d like to elevate?

I have become so grateful for my education and the opportunities that I have been given by being educated. However, currently 130 million girls are out of school worldwide, whether due to stereotypes, lack of knowledge, or even the pandemic. I would love to continue supporting girls’ education through the Malala Fund, founded by girls’ rights activist Malala Yousafzai. The Malala Fund especially highlights education for Asian girls which I am also very passionate about. Currently I am doing a research project through school about girls’ education and the consequences of not educating girls, and I would love to continue supporting organizations such as The Malala Fund to show the importance of educating girls.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I am so grateful for all of the amazing memories and experiences that I have had through Asian Girls Ignite. I have met so many amazing people who have inspired me to continue my activism. Through my passion instilled by AGI, I hope to continue to support the rights of women of color!

Asian Girls Ignite’s “Student Spotlight Series,” in collaboration with Colorado Equity Compass, shines a light on student members. Students answer a series of questions using any format or platform they desire. The intention is to showcase how diverse AAPI girls’ stories truly are.

Student Spotlight: Katie B.