Spotlight

TCK Spotlight: Zoe Leung

This month, I spotlighted Zoe Leung, a fourteen year old TCK living in Europe. This is her first year with TPS and her class schedule consists of English 3 – Intrigue and Illusion, Biology, French 2, and AP Human Geography. She loves to read, but also finds herself writing more and more. Her other passions include playing the piano and cello, as well as crocheting gifts for her friends. 

Zoe has been a TCK for practically her entire life, with both parents growing up in Hong Kong and later immigrating to the US. She herself was born in the States and called Maryland her home for ten years. She says that she personally has no sense of American pop culture (though she’s getting better now!) and at the same time, she isn’t fully immersed in Chinese culture either. 

Zoe’s life as an MK officially started four years ago when her family moved overseas to serve the Lord. Zoe has lived in three countries, being the US and two others. As of now, Zoe and her family have recently moved to a European country, and are witnessing to a minority group they’re familiar with. 

With a handful of unique locations under her belt, Zoe is able to speak English, Cantonese, French, and the local language of her country. For her, English is by far the easiest and the most comfortable one for her. The hardest is the local language, thanks to its “horrific” grammar. At this moment, Zoe is experiencing the joys and adventures of language learning. 

To Zoe, there are a few experiences which she believes most TCKs can relate to. For one, there’s adapting to cultural gestures and customs. Where she lives, the women will “kiss” each other by touching cheeks as a way of greeting. Additionally, they enjoy pinching younger children’s cheeks… “hard,” Zoe said, laughing. There’s also the feeling of not having a home— or the feeling of losing one.

Another struggle Zoe faces is the constant attention she gets as a TCK. The moment she walks out in the street, everyone’s eyes are on her. Her family are also the sole Asians in town, so sometimes she can feel like a “walking, talking zoo animal.” Typically, these stares are out of curiosity—but the appearance of COVID-19 has led to them taking a more hostile and degrading turn. 

Nevertheless, Zoe believes that through these trials, she learns the most about herself and her Creator. The experiences she has had because she’s a TCK have helped her to grow in many ways. Leaving a community she loves and enduring hard times have taught Zoe so much about holding firm to her faith in God. She’s discovered what it means to put her life into His hands and rejoice in Him, no matter the consequences. 

From enjoying gelato at a downstairs bakery to growing roots in a new country, Zoe has lived a full life. There are ups and downs in everything, but everything that has happened has greatly impacted who she is today. Her time as a TCK influenced her desire to also work in the mission field when she’s older. Matthew 9:27 speaks to her with “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (ESV). 

Zoe’s advice for anyone else out there, whether TCK or not, is this: “Do not live only because you have hope for something better tomorrow— there is hope in Him, and we should hope, but we need to remember to live today because He gives us strength and grace, He sustains us, and He is the lamp unto our feet.” 

She closes with 2 Corinthians 6:8-10, a passage which she says never fails to give her the chills. “We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as rejoiced, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (ESV).

Thank you so much, Zoe! I loved being able to relate to your stories and also receiving your words of insight was a huge blessing. God bless! 

 

Image Credit: Zoe Leung

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