Andrew V., 22, is a Laotian-American senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in marketing.
“I would say two things that bring me joy and help me showcase my identity would be fashion and music. A recent event that helped me showcase and express both of these outlets was an off-campus rave called “Seeking Arravements,” a showcase of multiple local DJs from the Twin Cities area.
The event was a way for me to express my joy by being able to wear an outfit without the fear of being judged by anyone. The community that attended “Seeking Arravements” is full of open-minded students from the U and other like-minded Minneapolis residents. I fully got to express my fashion sense in the style that I have that is truly representative of my identity.
Another event where I felt joy and free expression was my spring break trip with my friend group. On that trip, music was a way for me to connect with people that have been in the same friend group since freshman year, but we definitely connected on a deeper level because I showed my true self.
My fashion and style are a clear representation of my identity. So on that trip, it was nice to be able to fully show who I am. It was a joyful moment because it culminated this feeling of acceptance from my friends. My friend group is composed of people who don’t really share the same layers of identity that I have. But it just felt nice to have that final validation in a way that these people aren’t friends with me because they’re tokenizing me, but rather appreciating other facets to my identity like my style and music taste.
These two outlets aren’t something I necessarily get to express through my major in the Carlson school. Who I am in school is someone who is ambitious in terms of career seeking, rather than someone who is, on a social level, very creatively expressive through their style and artistic interests. During my time studying what I’ve been studying, I feel like it has formed this dual identity: one I showcase in a social setting and one I showcase in a professional environment. I wish there was a way to totally mold those two identities together for the sake of showcasing my joy in a professional setting rather than just a social setting where I am my regular self.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview conducted by Amena Ahmed.