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Content Warning: This section contains racial slurs in reference to Christina’s direct experiences.
Cheerleading is the central motif in The Tryout and acts as the catalyst for change both within Christina and between her and the social world. It is a demonstration of How Growth Changes Friendship and illustrates The Desire to Fit In and Feel Understood. When Christina first sees the cheerleaders, she is deeply moved; they are illustrated in bright colors and with sparkles around them, as though they exude some sort of magic. Christina immediately and desperately wants what they have, and she agrees to try out with Megan. Over the next several months of grade seven, their courage and confidence, as well as the friendship between them, are tested.
Christina and Megan initially try out for cheerleading together, but when Megan partners with someone else, it challenges Christina’s idea of friendship and she starts to worry that she will lose Megan forever. Christina sees Megan as the better gymnast and far more likely to succeed at cheerleading, and she begins to feel jealous of Megan. Christina likes cheerleading right away: “When we’re all doing a cheer together, I just feel… right. Like I’m part of something” (120). This sense of community and belonging is something Christina longs for, and she also hopes to become popular so that she is no longer teased and bullied. By failing to make the cheerleading squad, Christina is forced to find a different path and to discover who she really is. She realizes that she has other talents, and that there is value in making new friends. She also comes to understand that she can still be close to Megan, even as they each go their own way in life. From her experiences in cheerleading, Christina gains confidence and overcomes her fear of public performance, which paves the way for her future as a storyteller. She comes to see Disappointment as an Opportunity for Something Better.
The mixture of Thai and American culture that makes up Christina’s life is an important motif in the memoir, as it forms the basis for her heritage, her family, and the circumstances that drive her to try out for cheerleading. Christina has always felt like an outcast, in large part because of her Thai heritage, and she sees cheerleading as a chance to become popular and accepted. Christina’s father immigrated to the United States from Thailand for job opportunities and the chance for a better life, and Christina notes the irony in how her father opened a Chinese-American style restaurant even though he and most of the employees were Thai. Like Christina, her father wanted to fit in, and didn’t think that small town Texas even knew what Thai food was at the time. Christina also goes to the temple with her family occasionally, in order to connect to their roots and visit old friends. She regrets not knowing the Thai language but appreciates having a relationship with Buddha.
At school, Christina stands out because she is the only Asian-American. A bully in her class named Tobin refers to her as “Rice Girl” constantly, always eager to point out that she is different. Teachers in each of Christina’s classes either can’t or won’t pronounce her last name, and Christina is told by some of her classmates that all Asian girls have flat chests and perfect skin. Christina initially attempts to fit in by making fun of herself like she has seen her father do, but it doesn’t work for her, and she instead finds herself pushing away the friends she does have. Christina is assured by her mother that most people in Texas are accepting and not racist, but Christina finds it difficult to focus on the positives. After finding her confidence through storytelling and cheerleading tryouts, Christina decides that she doesn’t need to let people like Tobin bother her. She grew up to write stories featuring Thai American protagonists.
Storytelling is an important motif in Christina Soontornvat’s memoir, bringing to life the important lesson of Disappointment as an Opportunity for Something Better, while also acting as a part of Christina’s personality that lies waiting to be awoken. Christina always loved to read, and her favorite stories were always fantasy like Lord of the Rings. She and Megan grew up telling stories and making up worlds together. Christina has a strong imagination and often imagines herself as an elven warrior, conquering her bullies and becoming part of a strong cheerleading squad. When Christina doesn’t succeed in cheerleading, she feels temporarily lost and wonders where she fits in. She realizes that she has always had a natural affinity for storytelling, and the realization propels her toward independence and a more confident version of herself. She starts to aim for her own goals, rather than simply trying to fit in with her peers. Christina finds success in storytelling, even winning first prize at an impromptu speaking contest. She frames her speech like a story, discussing what makes the state of Texas so wonderful: “Everyone knows that characters are what makes a story great, and Texas has the best characters” (248). These “characters,” who are actually herself, her family, and her friends, become the inspiration for many of the stories that Christina wrote and published in adulthood.
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