Amanda Sutherby (she/her) | Co-President
Nursing | School of Nursing ’24
Hometown: Clarkston, MI
FAM: d i r t y
How has FASA contributed to your experience as Filipinx/Fil-Am? Growing up I had trouble relating to my Filipino identity. I didn’t feel like I could be Filipino because I didn’t look like I was Filipino. I didn’t feel like I was able to claim that part of myself because I didn’t physically resemble what someone would typically picture when they imagined a Filipino person. And this disconnect from my identity wasn’t just about my appearance. I grew up in a predominantly white area. There was maybe one other Filipino person in my town, but we had little interactions with one another. So there was never anyone my age that I could relate to. And then at home there was nothing that could help root me to this Filipino identity either. There weren’t many Filipino dishes being made; no tagalog being spoken. So I ended up feeling very distanced from my Filipino side. It wasn’t until I arrived at Michigan, and joined FASA that I finally felt connected to my Fil-Am identity. Suddenly, I was learning concepts, histories, and traditions; stuff I was never exposed to before coming here. I found a group of people who felt the same way about their identity as I do. For once, I didn’t feel isolated by my own identity. I finally understood that I wasn’t half of this identity and half of that identity. I didn’t realize how big of a role FASA played in rebuilding my confidence in my ethnic identity, but being a part of this organization has helped me immensely.
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Hobbies: Reading, running, saving lives ig with my ½ nursing degree, spending time with family and friends
Go-To Karaoke Song: Classic – MKTO
Favorite Filipino Food: Lumpiang Shanghai
Kaibigan Korner: Fridays @ 4pm – 5pm
