Sienna G. (she/her) is a Chinese American adoptee and 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?

My favorite food is pan fried crispy tofu with rice and bok choy. I also love dim sum!

WHAT SPARKS JOY WITHIN YOU?

Reading great books and being outside gives me joy. I also find joy in spending time with my friends and family, rock climbing, traveling, swimming, trying new things involving STEM, playing tennis even though I’m pretty bad at it, and eating!

WHAT IS CAPTURING YOUR INTEREST THESE DAYS?

Activism is capturing my interest these days. I am in a leadership/social justice program and have recently started an internship with a company that does a lot of policy work on issues that are important to me.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

I’m working on finding activities that I love and make me happy. I’m also working on a mental health toolkit with Young Invincibles and a resource page that highlights resources for various issues affecting our daily lives.

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 this constant stream of love and valuable life lessons. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. She means so much to me and is so supportive in all my endeavors.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN AAPI GIRL?

My favorite part about being Asian American is the community we have. Even though there aren’t very many AAPI students at my school, whenever I am in a space where there are, I feel this huge sense of belonging and inclusion. I also love the different traditions that I celebrate; Chinese New year and Lunar New Year for example.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO CELEBRATE OR CARE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS?

I like to care for myself by trying to prioritize my mental health and well being. I celebrate and care for others through words of affirmation and letting them know they’re valued.

WHAT DOES AGI MEAN TO YOU?

AGI means so much to me. This program has allowed me to have so many new and amazing experiences and have this close community of AAPI girls, women, and non-binary people. Being able to hear stories that I can relate to has been truly influential to me!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE AGI MEMORY OR EVENT?

My favorite AGI memory was probably the recent trip to Snow Mountain Ranch, bouldering, or the summer camp. There’s so many to choose from!

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO ASK OR KNOW ABOUT OTHER AAPI GIRLS?

I would like to ask other AAPIs about what they love about being AAPI and how being AAPI affects their daily life.

IS THERE AN ORGANIZATION OR PROJECT YOU’D LIKE TO ELEVATE?

I’d like to elevate Girls Inc. of Metro Denver. I’ve been a part of Girls Inc. since elementary school and they have given me so many incredible opportunities! They are an organization dedicated to “inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold”. I went to their summer camp for over 8 years and am now in their “Eureka!” STEM program and “Leadership Out Loud” advocacy program, which are both long-term programs that have new opportunities each year!

I’d also like to elevate a personal project of mine. I created the Instagram account @amplifybipocvoices around the time that a lot of anti-Asian hate was happening in the world. I wanted to highlight the stories of AAPI and BIPOC individuals! I’d love for this account to be more widespread and for people to share their stories, so I can make more posts! Here is the link to the google form so you can share your story: https://forms.gle/3DpN4Aift9yRe2URA

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: Sienna G.