Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aisley Sengthong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Aisley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was four years old when my mom taught me a traditional Lao dance. I wasn’t a prodigy at dancing, but I did as well as any other preschooler could do. I sang my mom’s favorite songs with her whenever the radio was playing. Her favorite music to play during car rides would be from artists like Loso. And while we predominantly spoke English at home, I always tried my best to sing along with my mom from the back seat.

My mom wasn’t surprised when my teacher announced that I was especially talented at singing songs I learned in class. I remember my favorite was ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. Music seemed to come to me easily.

At the end of the year, my preschool class had a performance in the auditorium. We were to perform songs we had learned throughout the school year. I vividly remember assembling and putting on my duckling costume, eager to perform ‘Five Little Ducks’ with my classmates.

My mom came up with the original idea to teach my class a Laotian dance to perform for all of our parents. I didn’t realize it then, but her action has left a mark on me that I will carry for the rest of my life.

My cousin and I were the only Laotian kids in our class. There are just over 200,000 Laotian people in the United States as of 2023. When I was young, Laotian representation in the media was little to none. The only Laotian people I knew were family members, or friends of my family who also emigrated to the US with my grandparents. In every one of my classes, from kindergarten through my senior year of high school, I was the only Laotian-American.

My preschool class enjoyed learning the dance my mom taught us. I enjoyed learning and performing it, too. I’m glad my teacher was kind enough to let my mom showcase a piece of our culture to an audience that wasn’t familiar with it.

My mother’s confidence and pride in our culture will forever stay with me and live through me. I’m now using social media to show my own appreciation for my community and culture. My grandparents, cousins, siblings, aunts, uncles, and parents have shown me how lucky I am to be part of the Laotian-American community. I celebrate Pi Mai, feast at Lao parties and our food festival, and show appreciation every day for my tight-knit community. Social media has played a huge part in connecting me with other Lao Americans across the country and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’ve taken my first performance from the small auditorium full of parents and transformed it into a confidence I show to the world.

Aisley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Aisley Sengthong. I post content about my daily life as a Laotian-American living in Southern California. My content is primarily about how I spend my ideal days, and the close relationship I share with my sister and family. I started sharing about myself online as a hobby, and it still remains as a hobby. My Instagram is a curated digital diary that I use to document my days that I share with those I am close with. I’m most proud of my background and the time that I have put in to delve deeper into my familial roots.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There seems to be a shared commonality that minorities have, which is the feeling of being out of place in society. It’s a feeling that harbored in me while I was growing up that I have come to unlearn. Earlier in this article, I mentioned how I have been the only Laotian-American in my classes. The majority of people I was around when I was younger were white. While that was never a problem, it was obvious that I was not from the same descent. The only other people who knew of Lao food, Lao dance, & Lao culture were in my family. And when I went to school every day, not many people knew of my background or even cared where Laos was on the map.

I spent the majority of my time at home with my family, where my relatives speak Lao and still urge me to learn more about my culture. And that is where my appreciation and pride originate from. There is still very little Lao representation in the United States, but I hope to be part of that representation. I know that in the future, it will be my generation’s turn to teach Lao culture to the younger generations, like my mom did to my preschool class when I was four years old.

The feeling of being unheard may be common for small communities, but it is up to us to create a strong voice. I am looking to be one of the creators that are confident in their upbringing and Lao culture, while still celebrating my own individuality.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When another person or group within my community recognizes my prospects, and can relate or add on to my experiences.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aisleysengthong
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Aisley Sengthong