Introducin​g Eric Chuk of Los Angeles

Originally posted on http://bit.ly/eric-chuk

Prior to settling in Southern California, Eric Chuk didn't have many occasions to mark his family background. Aside from a few Khmer New Year celebrations in Saint Petersburg, Florida, he found that there was a disconnect between him and the Cambodian culture. Now after several years in Los Angeles, he recalls one reason he left his former home.

“I wanted to live with a larger Khmer population while continuing my studies,” said Chuk. “I've had the opportunity to meet others from the generation that has been raised as Cambodian-American, and I've become compelled by our history and potential.”

Despite Chuk’s cultural connection being relatively absent from his upbringing, he feels that people can have good role models in their lives no matter where they are.

“Most of us have someone among our family and relatives whom we admire for certain characteristics,” said Chuk, “so I think those are the most natural role models.” Furthermore, he expresses something counter-intuitive: the idea of focusing less on the ethnic aspect of role models, which many minority communities can seem to fixate on.

“While it is gratifying to see a positive example set by a Khmer person, we can be inspired by all kinds of people,” said Chuk.

In addition, Chuk acknowledges the differences between America and Cambodia, having made the trip overseas a few times. “The gap between lifestyles is huge in terms of opportunities to prosper and institutional resources,” said Chuk, “but that doesn't mean America is in all ways better than Cambodia or without its own problems.”

He also encourages those with a hybrid identity, like Khmer-Americans, to try “reconciling the two worlds that produced it by questioning but appreciating both... [to] see where the values overlap and move forward from that agreement.”

As a PhD student in library and information science at UCLA, Chuk believes the abstractions of higher education can be made relevant beyond school, to improve the world. Echoing one of Mahatma Gandhi’s most well-known adages, Chuk said, “If we want to productively affect our community, we have to become the success stories we've always wanted to hear. Independently developing true concern and motivation is the key to positive change, since those two things are almost impossible to implant.”

While working with THE KHMERICAN, Chuk hopes the web-based media outlet can expose people to issues they might choose to care about and then be motivated to take real action for. He also wants the Khmer community to gain recognition for its talent and reach, not just its tragic past.

Eric Chuk joins THE KHMERICAN team as a content manager and editor.

VP