Identity formation of Asian American teenagers and the role of the school counselor

Teachers and counselors who work with young people know that adolescence is a time of physical, mental, emotional, and social change. Adolescence is a time when teenagers are trying to form an identity for themselves and as they go through this process, many factors will help form who they are and who they become. Most teenagers are able to navigate these years with little conflict, on the other hand, some struggle with different issues. Adolescents have to deal with issues related to sexuality, peer pressure, and development to name a few. However, adolescents belonging to ethnic/racial underrepresented groups have to deal with all the aforementioned factors and with their ethnic/racial identity. This paper will focus on the challenges and opportunities ethnicity and race have on a person's identity formation, specifically Asian American teenagers.