Congratulations to our seven 2024 SEAPI Camp Scholarship Winners. Each camper received a $100 scholarship to be used towards camp registration fees.
1st Time Camper Scholarship
Nam Brox |16 years old | Manhattan, Kansas –
To me, “Against The Grain” means to be unique and go your own way. Even questioning the “follow the crowd” mentality. Uniqueness brings diversity and can help people understand and think deeply about certain things.
I go against the grain by researching things that are controversial and forming my own opinion with a mix of my morals and what I think is factually right. It’s rather difficult to find neutral, non-biased points of view nowadays, because everyone has bias to some degree. But I love learning about the world around me and I question a lot of things because I have always been a very curious person. I credit my autism for giving me my personal strengths and helping me go against the grain.
Because of my autism, focusing on a subject for a long time and close attention to detail comes naturally. Autistic people are not superior to people who aren’t, autism is simply a trait that gives strengths and downsides. It’s just like how everyone has their own areas they excel in and others where they don’t do all that well. Autism makes our brains process information differently than what is “normal”. But sadly, autism and neurodiversity have been and still are misunderstood and surrounded by negative social stigmas in society. Many think neurodivergent people have conditions that need to be treated. It’s heartbreaking that these can cause neurodivergent people to feel bad about themselves, and I myself will admit that I felt doubt about myself because of my condition. That has changed; I have been very passionate and proud to have my autism, even calling it a “superpower” of mine.
Neurodiversity does present challenges to people with these traits. What they need from others is compassion and extra help for their different needs. Instead of trying to treat or “cure” these said conditions, they need awareness and acceptance. I would not be the person I am now without autism, and I want other neurodivergent people to feel the same way about themselves.
High School Senior Camp Scholarship Winners:
Maria KimDung Kremer | 17 years old | Delft, Zuid-Holland (The Netherlands) | University of East Anglia (UK), Occupational Therapy | 13 years at Camp
Going Against The Grain means trying new things and being who you are. It’s about being adventurous and being open to new ideas and concepts and doing things that aren’t necessarily normal but that feel right.
I try to be very open-minded and try new things, even if they don’t seem routine or comfortable compared to what I normally am used to. I try to be who I am and not be ashamed. I am proud of who I am and what makes me different.
Through heritage camp, I have been able to learn more about my culture and connect with people who are like me. I have made life-long relationships and formed incredible memories. It has shaped me as a person in many ways in which I will forever be thankful.
Christian Nguyen | 18 years old | Sulphur Bluff, Texas | 5 years at Camp
‘Against The Grain’ means to me to have an unbearable amount of resistance to the harsh struggles in life and to conquer challenges everyday and to live like you have to climb Everest.
I go against the grain by fighting the good fight and chasing my dreams like I will never see another sunrise. When I wanted to pursue my dreams of working and customizing cars, I spent countless hours researching and studying every ins and outs of cars trying to figure out what I could learn. Now I am doing what I love with the knowledge and tools to pursue my dreams of owning a business in the automotive industry.
Attending heritage camp made a difference in my life by meeting other people from the same backgrounds and understanding how adjusting to adoption has impacted their lives. The most memorable moment from the Southeast Asian Pacific Islander heritage camp was the time when we went and cooked with the Asian Fusion Thai ladies where I learned the “proper way” to make cold egg rolls and wraps.
Clara Connolly | 17 years old| Boulder, Colorado | Cal Poly, Kinesiology/Pre Med Track | 14 years at Camp
To me, ‘Against The Grain’ means embracing your individuality and being comfortable with who you are, even if it means standing out or being different from everyone else. It signifies the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new opportunities and experiences that you might not have otherwise encountered.
I go ‘Against The Grain’ by venturing outside of my comfort zone to help out others that need it. For example, this summer I visited and volunteered at an animal refuge in Quintana Roo, Mexico without any friends, family, or organized program. Although I was different from everyone else I was able to push myself through and find a forever family while also helping out animals. I am going against the grain by finding unique opportunities to further support my number one value of helping others.
Heritage camp helped me understand that while I may be different from many people, I’m not alone. I formed long lasting friendships and made unforgettable memories. This experience has made me proud of being adopted and proud of my culture and heritage.
Linhly Harwel | 17 Years Old | Pasadena, California | University of Southern California, Writing for Screen and Television | 15 years at Camp
To me the idea of going ‘Against The Grain’ is to be bold and to go against others ideas or opinions in order to be the best person you can be and to constantly fight peer pressure, fear of being left behind, or fear of being different.
Like salmon who swim upstream, I do not like to follow blindly behind others and I often find myself resisting ideas, trends, or thoughts because I prefer to form my own opinion and I want to be seen as authentically as possible. Living in an age where social media and outside powers have so much influence in people’s self preservation of their image is so important, I believe going against the grain and doing my best to not let this influence change who I am is one of the most important things I can do.
Coming to heritage camp and meeting others who were adopted like me reminds me of the different pathways that life can take people and how circumstances create different life stories for people but heritage camp, for a blink of an eye, is a chance for everyone to come together and experience their culture and community.
Cameron Voogt | 17 years old | Denver, Colorado | Undecided, Architectural Design | 15 years at Camp
‘Against The Grain’ means to me going against the norms and doing what you what even if people find if unusual. This means standing out in the crowd and going above and beyond.
I go ‘Against The Grain’ by being a trans man and educating those around me about my life style and how trans hate is real. Also educating those around me about asian hate and how it’s like to live as a minority. I also go against the grain by being a speaker for my school while be on student council and going above and beyond to get my fellow students voices heard.
Attending heritage camp has allowed me to connect with people who have a similar background with me and has allowed me to discover a group of people that will support me no matter what and that I will always be able to reach out to no matter the circumstances. Camp has allowed me to find my second family.
Lily May | 17 years old | Baton Rouge, LA | University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, General Psychology | 9 years at Camp
Against The Grain serves as an organization devoted to assisting the underprivileged in Southeast Asia, symbolizing a light in the world and in my life. Despite the negativity, hate, and discrimination today, ATG means to me a positive light shining upon community, kindness, and connection of Southeast Asian adoptees. It means to me a sense of hope and love in which many underprivileged children in Asia as well as some adoptees in America may sense.
I can go ‘Against The Grain’ in my every day life by serving the dear neighbor throughout my words, actions, and deeds. By being a light in others’ lives by serving my community, leading my school, and bringing people from all walks of life together with grace, I can show the light that ATG is based upon by giving others and myself hope in a world of negativity.
HCAF SEAPI has made a difference in my life by not only instilling a sense of belonging, love, and trust, but by being the shining light of hope throughout my emergence into adulthood. Through the workshops of fun cooking, heartfelt talks, and my favorite of course, (dancing), I have been gifted and blessed to experience the joy of my heritage that I have been longing for in the Deep South. Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, I was definitely not always represented and gratefully never felt excluded or embarrassed, but almost a lack of understanding. SEAPI has blessed me with my best friends and a new family that will be my beacon of light throughout all the dark times that life has to bring.
SUPPORT OUR SEAPI CAMP FUND, AND HELP US MAKE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF SEAPI CAMPERS!
