As a first generation Australian, it was challenging to feel a sense of belonging in my adolescence. I was constantly told that I wasn’t Australian, whilst simultaneously being told that Filipino wasn’t really Asian. It was very alienating. When I reached Year 10, I changed schools. I remember walking into my home room class on my first day - everyone stared. I felt uncomfortable, and took a seat somewhere to the side. A guy leaned over and asked, “Mia Besorio isn’t an Asian name. We were expecting the new girl to be European. Where are you from?”. And while the question didn’t feel malicious, it stuck with me. The passive effect of that first interaction caused me to slide into an extended period of Imposter Syndrome. I felt the need to shift my personal interests and attitude to be more “Australian” and distance myself from Asian culture in order to fit in. Asking “where are you from” may feel innocent enough in context, but the internal erasure of my cultural identity that resulted from the day remained with me for almost a decade after.