It is often said that the hardest part of being a child is adjusting. The United States is a diverse country with many cultures; as a result, it can be overwhelming for teens to feel accepted for who they are and where they come from. Amy Tan is an American writer with traditional Chinese parents. She focuses her writing on mother-daughter relationships. Specifically, Tan's article, "Fish Cheeks," published in Seventeen Magazine, describes her struggle as a 14-year-old girl in America trying to establish her identity and fit in. Tan is in love with the minister's son, Robert. For Christmas, Tan prays for Robert and a new slim American nose. Tan's parents invite the minister and his family for Christmas Eve dinner. In those circumstances, Tan is overcome with fear of what Robert will think of her family's squalid Chinese Christmas. Tan's mother prepares a strange Chinese menu consisting of shrimp, fish, tofu and squid. Tan is ashamed of his family because he thinks they are loud and lack American manners. After dinner, Tan's mother tells her to be proud of who she is and where she comes from. However, it took many years for Tan to appreciate his mother's lesson. For Christmas Eve that year, Tan's mother prepared all of his favorite foods. Amy Tan writes this article using several literary devices suggesting that family plays a vital role in shaping a person's identity. First, Tan uses rhetorical comparison to support his claims. For example, Tan says, “What terrible disappointment would you feel if you saw not roast turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese food?” (Tan 1). Tan uses this comparison to show his readers that he is distancing himself from his family customs to create the image he thinks of Ro... in the center of the card... appreciating the lessons my family has taught me over the years. Even though I didn't know any better at the time, I now realize that I am the person I am today because of my family. My family supported my individuality without sacrificing their role in shaping my identity. For example, I was ashamed of speaking Spanish, especially around my American friends. Despite this, I was lucky because my grandfather only allowed us to speak to him in Spanish. He knew we would appreciate it later in life, and now I thank him for it. I have friends who wish their families would do the same for them, but it's too late. Family is there to guide us in difficult times when we don't know who we are. Ultimately, a person's true identity is revealed regardless of what is done to disguise or alter it. Works Cited Tan, Amy. “Fish cheeks”. Seventeen magazine 1987: 1-2