Xenia Lau is a Chinese American professional volleyball player. She is listed at number thirty of the tallest female athletes in the world according to the BMI chart. In this article, we will examine some of her career highlights that demonstrate her success both on and off the court as well as how she has dealt with coming to terms with being of a different nationality.
Xenia Lau is a Chinese American by birth, but was raised and brought up in San Francisco as a Chinese American. As she grew up in a predominantly white environment, it was important for her to understand and appreciate her heritage, especially given her parents’ mixed background and her desire to pursue a professional sports career in the US. As such, while growing up, she never hid her heritage and this helped her develop a strong sense of herself and what she was. The sport that she has chosen to play, volleyball, gives her a chance to hone and diversify her athletic talents, while also allowing her to make a living and earning a living in a very competitive sport.
It is important to appreciate how far sports can come in diversity and individuality, particularly in the US and elsewhere in the world. It is also important, however, to appreciate where a person comes from and what they are attracted or driven towards. For Xenia Lau, she loves the challenge and satisfaction of being a professional athlete. For Asian Americans, it is important to be proud of your heritage and have a plan B if your professional opportunities do not allow you to pursue a career in basketball in the US. While being of a different race, having the ability to excel in a competitive sport gives her an enormous advantage.