Hard Truths

by Mya Pike-Gonzalez

My mother gave me a handful of jewels
As precious as I was.
So immense in my mind.
I gazed at them for hours
Enamored by their shine.
But they dulled as I aged.
Losing their luster

And then my mother revealed the trick.
“Eat up” she said.
Tears overcame me as I
Brought the handful of
Jewels to my lips.
I swallowed them whole.
Sharp edges cutting into
My lips, tongue and throat.

“Why?” I pleaded
Blood spilling from my lips.
“Because it’s good for you”

Amy Le Doan is an Asian-American, Vietnamese-American to be more specific. Doan was born and raised in America by my Vietnamese parents. Growing up around so many students of different cultures meant that Doan got asked many questions. Maybe they were never meant to be harmful, or maybe they were. These questions often led to them questioning themselves and who they were. Doan now realizes that they are in control of who they are and the best they could do is to educate others about stereotypes and how they can be, no matter the intent, harmful on one’s self-esteem.