Docile

Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl by Hyeseung Song is a powerful and intimate memoir that explores the struggles of identity, mental health, and the weight of cultural expectations. Growing up in Texas as the daughter of Korean immigrants, Song reflects on the pressures of living up to the "model minority" ideal while battling feelings of inadequacy, depression, and the search for belonging.

Through raw and poetic storytelling, she recounts her experiences with mental health crises, hospitalizations, and the difficult path of reconciling family expectations with her own desire for freedom and self-expression. From the rigid structures of an Ivy League education to the liberating journey of becoming an artist, Song offers a deeply personal look at resilience, self-discovery, and breaking free from the need to be "perfect."

Docile is a moving testament to the challenges faced by many first-generation immigrants—and a reminder that true strength often comes from embracing imperfection.