Blending Cultural Identity: Being Lebanese and American

The modern world is one full of multifaceted people who come from many different backgrounds and celebrate many different cultures. Mia Fares, a member of the St. John’s Class of 2020, is one of those people. Mia and her family are amazing people who are Lebanese, and yet, at the same time they are quintessentially American, and celebrate being both. I asked Mia what it means to her to balance cultural identities in this way. 

What does it mean, for you, to be Lebanese?

I consider myself Lebanese-American. There is a duality to my identity. Growing up, I never truly felt like I could identify completely as American or Lebanese. I now find there is a beauty to living with this duality. I have gotten to see a wide array of perspectives and see the reason to explore and learn more about others' perspectives.

What role in your day to day life does Lebanon play?

Lebanon brings back a lot of amazing memories for me. My parents tried to take my siblings and me every summer that it was safe to travel there when I was growing up. I associate being there with being with my grandparents and extended family. Day to day here in Houston, I hear
Arabic spoken regularly in my home, and our food consists mostly of Lebanese dishes. 

What do the current events in Lebanon mean to you (the protesting, the October 29th resignation of the prime minister, the recent wildfire)?

It is really exciting to me because people in Lebanon are truly uniting for the better and seeing past their differences. I follow a bunch of accounts on Instagram to keep up with the protests, and it's amazing to see how Lebanese all over the world have come together to peacefully stand for justice and against corruption. It has really made me feel like a part of a greater community, to be able to see so many people coming together from all over the world because they truly love Lebanon, which is a tiny country, and see a brighter future for it is really inspiring.

What is your hope for the future of Lebanon?

I hope that Lebanon remains the most beautiful country on Earth and that Lebanese around the world will start taking more initiatives to preserve her beauty. I hope that the unity across sectarian divide can continue past the protests and into the formation of a new, uncorrupted governmental system.

In an increasingly global world, it is important to know who you are and where you come from, and Mia embodies those values. The deep roots that Mia has in both of the countries she calls home are a great example of how each and every person should emulate every part of their background and where they come from, and not stifle one culture to be a part of another. The Lebanese people - starting with Mia - are a huge inspiration to all with their unity and perseverance, their willingness to fight for who they are and what they believe in.