Confined within the boundaries of the model minority myth, Asian Americans are commonly perceived as a mass of indistinguishable overachievers who are all “smart” and “good at math.” However, these seemingly positive stereotypes can have a detrimental impact on not only Asian Americans, but also race relations in general. In this talk, Alice Li draws from research studies and her personal experiences to challenge the two-dimensional identity outlined by the model minority myth.

Originally from Kentucky, Alice Li is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. She is pursuing a major in neuroscience and a minor in music performance. In 2015, she was honored as a United States Presidential Scholar and as a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship recipient. Outside of class, she enjoys cooking, playing piano, writing articles for the student newspaper, conducting research in a psychology lab, and participating in cross-cultural organizations. Her diverse interests stem from a desire to both create and exchange ideas with others, and she is passionate about exploring the intersection of academic disciplines and personal stories.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx