When Ai Lin starts school, she helps her classmates learn to pronounce her Chinese name and shows them that her name is not just a sound but a meaningful part of her identity and heritage
When Ai Lin starts school, her classmates can’t pronounce her Chinese name. She helps them understand her name isn’t just a sound it is a part of her heritage.
When Ai Lin starts school, none of her classmates can say her name. The children make several attempts, but they still cannot pronounce it properly. They ask Ai Lin if they can just call her by another name. It's not that important, right? But Ai Lin knows the significance of her Chinese name. No, it can't be changed. Her name is part of her identity and heritage. Her name was chosen not only for what it means, but also for how it sounds. It ties her to her family--present and past--and to its traditions. When Ai Lin shares her family history with her classmates, they come to understand that a name can be a person's story, special and unique. Ai Lin's name, and all that it means and stands for, is as personal as a fingerprint, as distinct as a snowflake. In this empowering story, one child shows that by making the effort to properly pronounce someone's name, we send the welcoming message that everyone is worthy of respect and dignity.
