Nima del Mes
sydhaupt (California, United States of America)
Syd Haupt is a recent graduate of UC Santa Barbara, where she majored in Communication and was an active member of the Nikkei Student Union. Syd grew up in Pasadena, California, but she’ll soon be heading for cooler climes as an incoming Master’s student at the University of Cambridge, where she will be working towards a MPhil in Health, Medicine and Society. Syd plans to study how race impacts access to fertility care, and hopes to become a professor and continue producing research inspired by her community.
Syd is a joint summer intern for Discover Nikkei and the Japanese Bar Association (JABA) this summer through the Nikkei Community Internship program. She has written several articles for Discover Nikkei as part of her internship and conducted a video interview with attorney Michael Yamaki. The interview and Syd’s reflection article will be added to Discover Nikkei later this month.
What do you like most about Discover Nikkei?
I love how Discover Nikkei creates a platform that emphasizes the diversity of our community. It is easy to believe that Japanese Americans are all one sort of homogenous person with the same background, but Discover Nikkei creates an opportunity for diaspora voices to tell their stories. The mere fact that Discover Nikkei publishes in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese shows me how much our amazing staff gives us the chance to tell our stories on our terms. I really wish I had found out about it earlier, particularly because being a multiracial Japanese American can be challenging, and I often felt alone growing up. Seeing more stories like mine on Discover Nikkei helps me feel at home, and shows me that our community has room for everyone!
What has been the most meaningful aspect of your internship?
The opportunity to connect with my community and engage with individuals who come from many different backgrounds! Growing up as a yonsei multiracial Japanese American in a predominantly white part of Los Angeles, I had not realized how many people have the opportunity to connect with their culture from a young age, particularly through opportunities such as Japanese American basketball and Buddhist churches. Being able to spend time with people who are so integrated into Japanese culture has given me an entirely new outlook on my identity and strengthened my bonds to the community. Thank you, Nikkei Community Internship!
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