Prometheus 6

By Michael James Rocha

"Work is not supposed to be easy. It's hard, but you do it anyway," my wise mother told me over dinner. This conversation occurred soon after my promotion to features design editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune in October 2002. It was my first foray into the world of management, and at 31, I felt as if I were jumping into the shallow end of the pool, head first.

Since stepping into my first professional newsroom (Pasadena Star-News) back in 1990, I have had my share of trials and tribulations, mostly brought on by self-doubt in a world where I always felt out of place, like I didn't quite belong.

There are many stereotypes about Asian Americans, and for the most part, I was a living, breathing Asian American stereotype. I was never one to rock the boat. I was always reserved. I respected my elders. I aimed to please. I never questioned authority. I refrained from tooting my own horn. My work should speak for itself, I often thought. Work hard, and the next day, work even harder. Suffer in silence. The needs of others come before mine. Succeed in everything, fail at nothing.

"In other words, live up to the expectations of what it means to be a "model minority."

Enter the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).