A child of Taiwanese immigrants to the US, and now an immigrant herself to Canada, Cynthia has learned, is unlearning, and relearning how to think about herself as a racialized, curvy, heteronormative body.

Growing up outside of Boston, MA, Cynthia’s career was a navigation of her family’s expectations versus what she wanted to do. She started as an IT manager, but faced with a choice to leave GE, she switched careers to school counseling, knowing she wanted to support young people in transition. While counseling high school students at a 25% Asian populated school in Lexington, MA, Cynthia spearheaded an initiative to destigmatize and empower Asian youth and their families, educate administrators and educators on cultural attitudes and expectations towards education, and destigmatizing conversations around the connection between academic perfection and mental health She partnered with students, parents, community groups, local universities and hospitals to support this initiative to reduce suicide ideation rates and increase help seeking rates of Asian American students.

Moving to Canada forced Cynthia to reframe how she identifies herself, how she is seen, and how she moves through creating support for herself and other racialized bodies. She is currently a Career Strategist at Vancouver Island University, supporting students of many intersecting identities to enter their career journey with a sense of personal worth and purpose.

As a mom of an incredibly independently minded and creative six year old, Cynthia is continuing the work of her parents and grandparents: working on “her stuff” to pass along a better starting point for her kiddo. Her initial foray into counseling 15 years ago has led to healing through the knowledge of those she considers her knowledge elders: Thich Nhat Hanh, Linda Thai, Pema Chodron, Brene Brown, Esther Perel, Becky Traptow and Resmaa Menakem. She interweaves modalities such as therapy (IFS), soul crafting, shadow work, breathwork, chinese martial arts, dance and nature to navigate tough moments.

Cynthia is navigating reclaiming what identity really means. Not to be restricted by labels prescribed by industries or countries, but as a compassionate healer committed to supporting humans in transition. She is honored to serve as a mentor with Thriving Asians, looking forward to building community with fellow mentors and students.