Summary

In "An Education," Hong describes her teenage experience at art camp, where she met her lifelong friend, Erin. Hong admired Erin's confidence as an individual and an artist. Years later, the friends attended an exhibit of found art in New York. Amongst the pictures, was one of Erin’s childhood pieces. She refused to tell the artist the work was hers. Hong reflects on the comparative value of the juvenilia of white male artists. The precedence placed on white male artistic works in the literary world is not dissimilar. Hong notes the difficulties female artists have undergone to receive recognition for their writing.

In her own work, Hong was not ready to write about her mother, afraid she would dominate her story. She instead endeavors to write about her friendships with Asian women.

Years after art camp, Hong and Erin reconnected at Oberlin...