Name: Paige Ng A Fook
Year: Freshman
Major: Business Management
Age: 18
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Her Campus (HC): Where are you from?
Paige Ng A Fook (PN): Trinidad and Tobago.
HC: Were you born there?
PN: yes, I came to the United States when I was four.
HC: okay, let’s get into the hard stuff. Do you feel as if you’ve ever been subject to different treatment because you’re a minority?
PN: Yes, I remember one situation very clearly. I was on vacation with my family to Tennessee. My family and I were completely ignored when we asked someone we passed on the street for directions. The older woman didn’t even look at us when we went up to her. We were lucky though because a younger girl, maybe in her 20’s, saw that the woman ignored us so she helped us find the place we were looking for.
HC: that’s really frustrating and we’re sorry that happened to you and your family. Do you feel as if anything like this has happened to you on campus?
PN: No, not really. I think that college campuses are full of liberal people which makes me being a minority not a huge issue. The younger generations are much more understanding and accepting.
HC: How do you think the new administration will affect you personally?
PN: I don’t think it will affect me directly but I think it will impact my family. Many of my family members only have Visas to come to the US and I don’t want the administration to make it hard for them to come visit. My mom and I are lucky enough to have citizenship but it’s scary to think that Trump could prevent me from seeing the rest of my family.
HC: Being that you can relate to other minorities, what do you think about the ‘Muslim Ban’ executed on January 27, 2017?
PN: I believe that America is supposed to be built on freedom in all things, like religion. We’re known to be a melting pot so with this order, I feel like it’s going against all of that. Also, people come to America because their own countries don’t offer the equal opportunity that we have here. My mom was able to come here and make a better life for herself and I feel like everyone else should be able to, too. I wouldn’t be where I am today so it makes me sad that other people are being held back.
HC: We at Her Campus understand your frustrations and thank you for taking the time to share.