Amy Tan grew up in a Chinese Family whose mother predominately spoke the native tongue.

Living in
the United States and being unable to speak proper English, Tan's mother had always found it difficult to
convey her message to people. Her mother's lack of English skills and commitment towards her mother
drove Tan to pursue a career as a writer. She hoped to improve the judgment on Asian-Americans' ability
to write, and aimed to write a piece of literature easy enough for anybody to skim through.
Sherman Alexie was born in a Spokane Indian Reservation where their motto was: don't stand out. During
his child years, his father would occasionally bring home books from the local pawnshop; unlike Tan,
Alexie's role model was his father who encouraged his interest in writing. Alexie's fondest book may have
been the Superman comic in which described Superman breaking down a door. Being one of the only
Spokane writers, the phrase "I am breaking down the door" was his life mission in reforming the Spokane
Indians' social norms.
It is indisputable that both Tan and Alexie have experienced authentic learning. Tan understood her
mother's English through-and-through whereas others could not; she understood that language is a barrier
that must be shattered. Alexie could not acknowledge the nonsense of his clan's social norms, and chose
to rise and uplift those around him.
I cannot see myself as a writer. My vocabulary and ideas are run-of-the-mill and I lack creativity.