“The Way I Am” is a short film that follows young adults as they struggle to claim their individuality even though their identities clash with the expectations of family. In this short, the audience follows three different narrative arcs. The first of which is singer/songwriter Leah Dou performing a song in Los Angeles. Half way around the world from her family, she struggles between her passion for music and the fact that she misses her relatives. Other subjects we follow are a young couple in Beijing, China. The couple’s relationship is frowned upon by their family members because they are different socioeconomic status. The third and final narrative arc is a man returning home to see his parents. It is apparent that his family does not condone his expression through body tattoos as he seeks to cover them with long sleeves.