The 2nd Place Winner of Middle School Group
Jaysen Shi
8th Grade - Herbert Hoover Middle school
Topic: "Building Leadership: Embracing Cultural Values and Inclusion"
The United States of America is one
of the most developed and productive countries in the world. Why? Because the
U.S. has been embracing cultural values and inclusions. The U.S. is a country
full of immigrants. Since many different races of people live there, many
different cultures and values have been brought to the country. America grew
not just because of its industrial development but also because it valued
creativity and diverse culture. There are some examples we can see in all areas
of our life: technology and entertainment.
A great example is the Chinese
American actor Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee was a world-famous martial artist, martial
arts instructor, filmmaker, and actor. He worked extremely hard to master Kung
fu and learn English. Bruce Lee contributed greatly to America in many ways. He
improved relations between America and Hong Kong while he traveled back and
forth making his movies. He helped to reduce racism towards Asian Americans.
Bruce Lee also spread Chinese culture when he made his movies. After his movies
came out, everyone wanted to learn Kung fu. Bruce Lee set a great leadership
example for Asian Americans by embracing American culture and contributing to
the society.
Amy Tan is a
Chinese American writer that wrote often about Chinese children and their
parents. She is a successful writer whose books spent many months on the New
York Times best selling list. Amy Tan contributed to American literature by
writing about her cultural background.
Steven Chu is
an Asian American physicist who was the 12th United States
Secretary. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics, because he found a way to cool
and trap atoms with laser light. He used to be a professor of physics at UC
Berkeley and Stanford. Steven Chu contributed greatly to world technology and
science.
Another good
example is Jeremy Lin, the first Chinese American to ever play in the NBA.
Jeremy Lin led the New York Knicks on a winning streak in February 2012. It was
known globally as “Linsanity”. Later, he was traded to the Houston Rockets,
where he continued his career. Lin publicly contributed his success to his
religion, Christianity. He embraced western culture and values. He is a great
role model for young Asian Americans everywhere. He also fought the stereotype
that Asians can't play sports well.
Another great
figure was world leader Mahatma Ghandi. Ghandi led India to independence and
inspired movements of nonviolence. He worked to stop the carnage between Hindus
and Muslims. Ghandi is also known for a civil-rights movement in South America.
His non-violent movement is one form of inclusion of his own culture and
other philosophies.
All of these
amazing people show that people can build leadership by embracing cultural
values and inclusions. They paved the path for our futures. As a result, the
United States will continue to be one of the most developed and productive
countries in the world.
Name: Jaysen
Shi
School :
Herbert Hoover Middle School, 8th grade
