Terps Writer's Corner - Amy Yip ‘04

What's the title of your book?

Unfinished Business: Breaking Down the Great Wall Between Adult Child and Immigrant Parents

Describe your book

Amy explores the profound influence her parents had on her life and offers you a roadmap to navigate conversations with your own parents.

What was your inspiration?

My parents

What is the #1 item you want people to take away from your story?

"Too often, we hesitate to ask our parents about their lives, held back by mistaken beliefs or past conflicts. But it doesn't have to be the case. No matter what age, we can still reconnect with our parents through the power of conversation to see the world through our parents’ eyes. By engaging in meaningful dialogues and taking the time to truly understand their experiences and struggles, we discover that our parents are not just figures from our past, but complex individuals with their own hopes, dreams and fears.

Each chapter provides a framework of self-reflective prompts, practical tips and thought-provoking questions to ask your parents, empowering you to embark on your own journey of connection. Because, regardless of the generation we belong to, we all long to be heard and understood. And that includes our parents.

This is not and was never going to be easy. But it can get easier."

What advice would you give to a new writer?

Be ok with a bad first draft... because it will be bad. And it's ok!

What book is on your nightstand right now?

What My Bones Know

What is your favorite book?

Any Brene Brown book

What do you do in your non-writing free time?

I'm a speaker and executive coach so that... plus playing with my 2 year old

What is your favorite alumni event or experience?

Game days!

As a student, what was your favorite spot on campus?

Mckeldin Mall.

What’s your Fearless Idea?

My Fearless Idea is to live in a world where women are finally prioritizing themselves first (rather than putting everyone and everything else first). And doing so without guilt!

So many ambitious, stellar, talented, amazing women play small. They live their life based on the ‘shoulds’ that have been handed to them by parents, teachers, managers and society. Imagine if women could quiet their inner judge, overcome self-doubt and let go of all those ‘should’s.’ What would be possible? My Fearless Idea is to help women see the possibilities and fearlessly pursue those possibilities. As Audrey Hepburn once said, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!’”

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