The name Karkiu (pronounced: car-cue) was inspired by my Chinese name. Raised as Chinese-Canadian, I’ve struggled with defining my identity. I was born with both my Chinese and English name – mainly referred to as my Chinese name at home and my English name outside of my home. At some point, I actively embraced only my Chinese culture, and at some other point, I actively embraced only Canadian culture. For the majority of my developmental years, I was embarrassed of my “Asian-ness” and felt the desire to assimilate into the culture of my environment. In those years, I referred to myself as only Jacklyn and as only Canadian.
We are all born one way. Then somewhere along the way, the world gets to us, and we change. My hope is not to undo what the world has done to you – it is not to help you revert back. My hope is to help you see who you are now given it all. What parts of your core, authentic self still resonate with the person you are today? What parts of your learned self do you want to keep? What does it mean to be authentically and unapologetically yourself? And what does it mean to fully embrace and accept all that you are?
Today, as I continue to vulnerably engage in self-discovery and confront myself deeply, I aspire to embrace myself exactly as I am – as Karkiu – unembarrassed and accepting of all parts of me.
Jacklyn Chung, RP, CCC
