Exploring Identity Through Zines and Hua Hsu's Memoir "Stay True"

Funded Aug 27, 2024

Thank you so much for donating to our class unit "Exploring Identity Through Zines and Hua Hsu's Memoir Stay True." Students were able to gain insights into memoir writing, adapting to college, friendship, the challenge of loss, and just how cool 90s were.

We read the book together, in small groups, and individually. We did some focused vocabulary support and used multimedia to give context to the time of the text, using music, images, and videos so they understood the culture being referred to in the book. Just because they wear Nirvana shirts, doesn't necessarily mean they know the band or their cultural impact. Students grew in their ability to find central ideas and justify their interpretation of a creative text.

Some students really connected with Hua's struggles of living in multiple worlds, identifying with the challenges of growing up in a different culture and place than their parents did. Some students really engaged with learning about new old music; some already listen to 90s music. And some students found the discussions about the nature of friendships, how they form, grow, and change over time, to be most interesting.

The highlight of the unit was students getting to meet with the author Hua Hsu via Zoom. We were only halfway through the book at the time, but students were excited to understand better what he was writing about and how chill a guy he was. Hua insisted no one should be getting music listening advice from someone in their 40s, but it was a common questions since so much of the memoir is about his love and involvement with music.

We also used the memoir as a guide to composing our own personal writing, including memoirs and college personal statements. Hua's courage in sharing his tale of growing and loss, helped students share their own triumphant and difficult moments from their own lives.

Thanks again to your kind donation to my students!”

With gratitude,

Mr. Bernor