The Bitter Sea was the summer reading of Baruch College freshmen students of 2010. The book was linked to a panel discussion with the author, Charles N. Li. Initially, I felt the discussion would be rather dry and dull. But it provided interesting insights that were not apparent in the book.
The book was about the journey and the hardships that Li had to overcome to reach his life today. He spoke about his identity and its constant adaptation to reality. As he changed settings from each event in his life, he absorbed a unique identity. The end of his journey to America and his experiences created a refined character. His insights inspired a curiosity of what my identity could be.
Even though I did not have the chance to talk to him personally, I feel he has impacted me in my search for my own identity. I will always think back to his panel discussion when I think about who I really am.
