Index IntroductionHow to Preserve My Culture (Essay)ConclusionIntroductionIn our country today we recognize the importance of preserving culture, which will be discussed in this essay. Because we are a nation of diverse cultures, our society is a wonderful blend of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American cultures. However, with the intrusion of the Western world, there has been a constant struggle between our traditional education and forced assimilation into their society. As a result, these different cultures are adapting or resorting to the so-called native language of the country, which is English. Unfortunately, this caused individuals to lose their sense of culture, making them unable to represent their fellow man in the country. Furthermore, in some workplaces, the use of a foreign language is strictly prohibited, which leads to discrimination against non-native English speakers. The loss of one's native language not only causes individuals to lose their identity, but also deprives them of the ability to communicate with their own people. Therefore, being fluent in our native language is crucial as it enriches our cultural background, allows us to communicate with our own people and, above all, preserves our cultural heritage. It's a way to keep our culture alive and gain the respect of our own people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayHow to Preserve My Culture (essay)"Becoming American means adopting new values, defining a new self, and finding a new voice" (Kingston, 16) . As US citizens, we must change traditional aspects of our lives to adapt to the American lifestyle. As a result, we lose touch with our culture, leaving behind everything we know about it. In my family, the responsibility of passing on our Filipino culture to future generations lies with the youth of our race. It is now that more and more adolescent individuals are becoming less interested in their native language, due to daily exposure to American life. From experience, I know that young adults who do not have any kind of understanding of their language, such as Tagalog, Chinese, Japanese or Spanish etc., are viewed differently and are almost segregated by their own race. For example, in undergraduate universities, a large portion of the students are Chinese. There is a divide between this culture; There are fluent Chinese (those who speak and understand the language) and there are the so-called "A, B, C", which stands for "American born Chinese". Not being able to speak our native language makes us silent and invisible to our own people. For American society we can speak freely, but for our people we have no voice. For most cultures, this is recognized as shameful. In June 1993, I returned to my hometown Manila, Philippines for a three-week vacation. This was probably the most difficult experience of my life. When we arrived, I was introduced to several cousins ​​I had never met before. As we said goodbye, I started with a “Hi, how are you?” My cousins ​​gave me offensive looks and, to be honest, I wasn't accepted right away. Because I couldn't speak our native language, or even know how to say "hello" in Tagalog, I wasn't recognized as a "real Filipino." All the uncles and aunts I met kept asking me why I couldn't speak Tagalog, in a very disappointing way. I had difficulty communicating with many of my relatives and could not understand what they were saying to me. I felt disappointed in myselfsame. Because I received no respect, I simply could not communicate and could not relate to my own people. In an article titled “Cherokee Language Committee Holds Summit,” from a periodical, The Cherokee Advocate, he discusses the importance of preserving the native language of the Cherokee tribe. “Throughout the years, the use of the Cherokee language has faded causing us to lose part of our culture. It is imperative that we initiate a plan to preserve the identity of the Cherokee people” (Cherokee Advocate, 21). Many cultures in the United States are struggling to keep their languages ​​in use. They lack the power needed to keep their culture strong. There are many obstacles to overcome to achieve such status. “The best place to start preservation (of our language) is in communities” (Cherokee, 21). initiative to ensure that their language is maintained. "We cannot decree the preservation of the language. The people themselves must truly want to preserve it" (Cherokee, 21). The first step is difficult to accomplish in America, especially when foreign national parents are now trying to teach their children American values. This is due to the fact that the English language gives you a chance to survive in this country of different cultures. Tongue loss can generally be attributed to non-use and non-exposure. When you are not taught to speak your native language, the more it will be obsolete in the future. This is one of the reasons why I decided to learn my language. It is an important resource for "being" Filipino, Chinese, Mexican, African, etc. Now I realized that when we don't speak it fluently. our language, we are deprived of our identity. On the other hand, being able to speak our native language will allow us to gain respect and recognition from our parents and elders. My "Lola and Lolo" (grandmother and grandfather) were only fluent in Tagalog. I regret that I never had the chance to bond or have a lasting relationship with them. Learning our language shows that you have taken the time to learn and appreciate our cultural background. It also shows that we care and are curious about where we come from. Knowing your language doesn't just mean knowing how to speak it, but also knowing your historical background. I know from experience that my parents would want me to be very knowledgeable about our family history because it gives them confidence that our culture will continue for generations to come. I think the main thing that worries our elders the most is the fear of losing our culture completely. That's why when they see it as young people they feel very proud. Speaking our native language has a lot to do with the ability to communicate with our own people, but there is much more behind this. It can also define our true identity. Not only does it allow us to relate to others, but it also allows us to discover who and what we are. Being Filipino, but also American, I am part of a generation struggling to find its identity. We must go through pain, joy, loneliness and community to discover our inner self that is unlike any other and go through that passage to the place where we see that all people are one, and so seeing we can experience the our lives into a brighter future. (Johnson, 127). Being able to speak and understand my own language would give me a sense of satisfaction, not only because all my parents and relatives would finally accept me as a "real Filipino", but also that I would earn that respect and that I would have an entire identity. I don't have a part of me hidden behind a black curtain, I can truly express myself in my true colors (Kingston, 18)..