Badgers Truong reflects on strength and resilience from cultural upbringing

Brock Badgers women's rugby player, Farica Truong, discusses how she embraces her culture as a second generation Asian Canadian.

Please describe, in as much or little detail as you'd like, what your cultural upbringing was like?

My cultural upbringing was challenging but amazing. Growing up in an Asian household with immigrant parents, I was able to experience my culture to the fullest - and that's including the delicious foods! Truthfully, it was difficult living with immigrant parents while going to school and growing up in an environment with completely different values and traditions. Still, I am proud to be a second generation Asian Canadian, knowing my parents did their best to raise my sister and I in a new country.

How has your cultural upbringing influenced you throughout your life?

My cultural upbringing has brought me so much strength and resilience. I've learned to embrace everything I am and everything I come from. Growing up, I wished that I didn't grow up ethnic and convinced myself how much easier life would be. I soon realized that my culture was beautiful and unique, filled with love and familial support and values. Today, I still struggle as an Asian athlete in a sport that is predominantly white, but I am proud to be different and proud of who I am.

Are there ways in which you continue to celebrate your culture? If so, please describe.

Celebrating your culture means celebrating everything before and after yourself. I celebrate my culture by being exactly who I am and by sharing my experiences with pride. It is never easy to talk about my culture when it is often glamourized but I believe in the importance of using my own voice. If not me, then who? I try to celebrate my culture every day by being open and true to myself without hiding the things that make me different. Different is never a bad thing!

Why do you feel it is important to embrace and celebrate your culture?

I realized not long ago that in order to truly embrace and celebrate your culture, you must reflect on everything. The good and the bad. Acknowledging the generational trauma that myself and many other BIPOC experience often leads to growth and healing. This is so important. If I am able to embrace and celebrate my own culture without shame, I can share it with others proudly!

Why do you feel it is important for people to learn about cultures other than their own?

One of the most important things required for self-growth is education. There are so many cultures in the world and learning about those other than your own allows you to have a deeper and wider understanding of the people around you. It allows you to be aware of any privilege you may have and teaches you how to support your friends and teammates. I truly believe that learning about other cultures opens up so much conversation and these conversations lead to trust and allyship!