About Me
Elsie is a 1st generation Laotian American. Her family originates from the cities of Xieng Khouang (Northeastern Laos) and Pakse (Southern Laos). Her parents came to the States with their families after political conflicts in the late 1980s and have since extended their families in a multitude of diverse ways.
Not only does Elsie know about Lao culture, but she was raised in Thai cultural surroundings, with East Asian traditions, and American education.
Stories of our parent's obstacles, upbringing, and culture need to be shared and HEARD. Along the way, we need to see how this affects the next generations-Walk a day in our shoes to see how we got miles away.
Elsie has dabbled in English studies, Psychology, and Philosophy, and has an unbreakable bond with History.
"In 2020 the influx of AAPI hate peaked at the highest I had ever seen in my lifetime. My parents took this time to tell me about their transition to America and how History repeated itself once again, but this time I was the youth going through it- protecting my parents... I took it upon myself to share their stories, my family's stories, and my own in hopes of teaching growing minds that this is my life since before birth. Our diversity should be our biggest accomplishment, not biggest struggle..."
"As children of immigrant parents, we often take it upon ourselves to be as knowledgeable as possible so we don't get played in the system... Some will joke calling us a 'Jack-of-All-Trades', this is our survival."
