"I speak Mandarin and can read and write a little. I took a few classes at Harvard to get better in my reading and writing skills"
About this Quote
The Harvard detail does double duty. Yes, it’s practical - classes to improve literacy - but it also plays as a savvy rebuttal to the stereotypes glued to him: the “smart Asian” and the “athlete” are usually treated like separate costumes. Lin stitches them together without preaching. He’s saying: I’m not just the anomaly you marketed; I’m someone who studies, tries, and keeps learning. That’s an athlete’s mindset translated into cultural competence.
There’s also a quiet commentary on diaspora reality. Speaking Mandarin is common in immigrant homes; reading and writing is harder, because heritage language is often oral, emotional, domestic. Literacy requires institutions, time, money - and, in Lin’s case, the privilege of access to Harvard. The subtext lands cleanly: connection isn’t automatic; it’s practiced. And in the hyper-visible arena of sports, even “a little” can be a way to take control of the narrative.
Quote Details
| Topic | Learning |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lin, Jeremy. (n.d.). I speak Mandarin and can read and write a little. I took a few classes at Harvard to get better in my reading and writing skills. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-speak-mandarin-and-can-read-and-write-a-little-21829/
Chicago Style
Lin, Jeremy. "I speak Mandarin and can read and write a little. I took a few classes at Harvard to get better in my reading and writing skills." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-speak-mandarin-and-can-read-and-write-a-little-21829/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I speak Mandarin and can read and write a little. I took a few classes at Harvard to get better in my reading and writing skills." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-speak-mandarin-and-can-read-and-write-a-little-21829/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
