Quote by Jenny Zhang: “To survive trauma means to remember trauma.”

This concise statement argues that true survival of trauma isn't about forgetting, but about the ongoing process of remembering and integrating past pain. It implies that acknowledging and processing traumatic experiences is essential for genuine healing and moving forward.

The mid-2010s saw increasing discussions around mental health, trauma-informed care, and the importance of acknowledging lived experiences. Online platforms became significant spaces for personal essays that explored these themes with raw honesty.

Chinese-American poet and fiction writer whose debut story collection Sour Heart won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2018. Her work explores the immigrant experience, childhood, and the complexity of family across class and culture.