My name is Yifan Jack Wang, and I am a BME PhD student at the U. I am an international student, a non-US citizen, and a member of the Chinese/Asian diaspora in the US. I acquired these identities only after I arrived in the US 9 years ago, and each of them presented unique challenges that shaped my journey.
International Student – My international student experience has been bittersweet. I have enjoyed the world-class engineering education at undergraduate and graduate levels, opening gateways to a promising career. However, in both learning and social environments, I am often asked to adapt, to do more than domestic students, to succeed. I am expected to understand colloquial language, discuss matters in the US-only context, and take up space in meetings in the “American way”. In addition, while I feel welcomed on most campuses, I have trouble finding support when I experience social isolation or emotional difficulties. It is rare to find a social event that I do not feel like an outsider or a culturally-competent counseling service.
There are over 1 million international students and scholars in the US. Many of us are made to believe that our identity is not worth mentioning and invisibility is the status quo. Most institutions argue that we are essential due to our economic contribution. Our educational experiences seem to be an afterthought. I hope international students can thrive not only by assimilating to US-centric approaches to thinking and relating; instead, our diverse backgrounds and experiences are genuinely acknowledged and valued. I also hope the academic communities treat us as integral members and provide necessary and appropriate resources to succeed.
Non-US Citizen – I am 1 of 21.8 million non-citizens in the US. I have been on F-1 (student), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), H1-B (nonimmigrant work visa), and most recently, the “Green Card” (permanent resident) visa. I do not intend to explain each visa type in detail but highlight that it takes a great time and effort to navigate the US immigration system and maintain legal status. What many growing up in the US perceive as a basic right, such as seeing families, traveling freely abroad, or having a second/part-time job, may be off-limits to a non-citizen. It is also disappointing whenever I find myself ineligible to apply for a career opportunity that I can excel in. Even in my dream job, since a piece of paper can decide my future plans, daily lives can be filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.
Although it may be up to policymakers to make regulations for the better, I hope everyone is aware of and acknowledge the “silent struggles” that people on visa go through. Visa status should be included in equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations. The academic advisors and career services should be knowledgeable about US employment opportunities for non-citizens. The academic community should support non-US citizen members, especially at times of crisis.
Chinese/Asian in the US –Although a minority in society, Asians are not considered “underrepresented” in academia, especially in engineering. I rarely felt excluded since I could see familiar faces in my area of study. However, the recent rise in the anti-Asian hate crimes across the US and rising geopolitical tensions between China and US gave me new revelations. The US anti-Asian history combined with the COVID-19 pandemic fueled violent attacks, including the Atlanta mass killings last March, which led to the death of six Asian women. The anti-China rhetoric from the previous administration led to the establishment of the “China Initiative” by the US Department of Justice to counter the Chinese government’s espionage and threats to national security. Many Chinese scientists in the US were unfairly investigated for alleged fraud and questionable connections to Chinese entities, including Gang Chen, a renowned mechanical engineer at MIT. These events made me feel targeted. I begin to worry about my physical safety and question whether academia is an equal playing field without discrimination against race and national origin.
It is not all without hope. The #stopasianhate campaign is gaining broad public support, and the “China Initiative” finally ends. We need to be aware of the social issues and show solidarity to marginalized groups on campus. In addition, science and engineering should not be bound by imaginary borders. As scientists, we should continue building bridges and enriching the academic community together, not being obedient followers of the states.