Navigating identity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham

One thing many students struggle with at university is making new friends and creating a whole new life for themselves. Being a highly sociable person, I found it challenging being myself in a new environment as I wasn’t prepared for the number of different people you meet at university so it can be overwhelming sometimes. Especially as a British-born Chinese (meaning my parents are Chinese but I grew up in the UK), I sometimes felt that I didn’t belong in the UK or my home countries. Even though I’m still working on my identity and who I am in the UK, I feel happy and proud to say that the UK is my country and where I belong.

Growing up between cultures

When I attended a British primary school, I was the only Asian person in the whole school. It was only when I came to university that I was surrounded by other people who shared my race and culture. On the inside, I felt British; I grew up learning British values in a British environment. However, my family grew up in different countries with different values, which sometimes conflicted with mine. At school, I looked different from everyone else, and even the food I brought to school set me apart. People would tease me about Chinese stereotypes, and over time, I began to internalise that judgment. It was tough to deal with growing up.

Finding inclusion at university

I genuinely believe university helped me rediscover my identity and not feel ashamed of being Chinese. Finding others like me who also felt they did not belong to either culture made me feel a lot relieved that I wasn’t the only one who felt confused. By making new friends through my course, societies and social activities, I met lots of other British-born Asians. These were other people who wanted to celebrate my culture and cook Asian food in the same way as me. I felt so happy I could spend the time with people like me, who were my age, and weren’t just my parents. A real positive about living in Birmingham is that there are Asian restaurants everywhere – there’s a dim sum place being a 10-minute walk away from my house! Overall, the diversity in Birmingham really helped me establish that being a British-born Chinese is something I should be proud of rather than ashamed.

Why inclusion matters

The type of environment at university matters because it can help make experiences more positive. That’s why I’m glad I joined the University of Birmingham, because there are so many different types of people here and there will always be something you enjoy doing or something new to try. I also realised that it didn’t matter about the people I was around; I still could feel authentically myself, express facts about my culture and feel comfortable sharing my love of food. Also, being British-born Chinese means I get to pick and choose between both worlds, which I absolutely love.

If you’re worried about finding yourself at university, remember that there’s no such thing as a perfect way to discover your own identity. However, if you put your authentic self out there, stay true to yourself and try lots of new things, you will find people you belong with. Remember, no matter your ethnicity or background, you are just as important as anyone else. You’ll find your place, your community, and hopefully learn more about yourself - just as I did.