Racial Identity Development

In the United States, its population consists of a variety of multiple races, ethnic and mixed groups. Considering the significant diversity in the U.S, each person typically goes through a process of shaping their identity with experiences and influences from an individual, group and universal level. As the U.S is considered as a modern day melting pot country, according to Pew Research Center (2016), Asian Americans present 5.8% of the population, which is nearly over 18 million people. Even though researchers have found a number of identity development models and have focused on dedicating much effort towards racial identity research, there has been limited research for the identity development among the Asian American community (Chae &
As this approach started the rapport-building process, very quickly Arvind was kind enough to share how he grew up as an upper middle 2nd class minority in the diverse capital city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Although he was a second generation Malaysian, according to the Malaysian law, Arvind and his family were legally considered 2nd class citizens due to their Indian race. Not only did this status affect him and his family’s privileges in education, job opportunities, and financial benefits (discounts, interest rates, special government backed investment plans, and etc.), but it also shaped his own personal perspective that he considers himself a citizen of the world rather than of any specific
Therefore, Arvind along with his cohort were the first computer engineering program to study abroad in Kalamazoo, Michigan to complete the remaining requirements for their undergrad degree. With mixed feelings leaving Malaysia, Arvind welcomed the new experience of attending a university in the United States. Before second semester started of his junior year in college, Arvind arrived in Michigan right after the holiday season. After embracing the cold weather shock, he experienced his first culture shock of America, the local newspaper. In Malaysia, their newspapers focuses on global markets, politics and news from all parts of the world; which helped the people of Malaysia to stay in tuned of global