Suzanne Yee

In the small town of Holly Grove, Arkansas, Suzanne Yee’s life began at her family’s grocery store, a place that was as much a home as a business. From an early age, she took on responsibilities, recalling, “When I was around nine, I started working in the store. I was checking people out, helping stock and sack groceries. Just did a little bit of everything.” Surrounded by the buzz of customers and her parents’ unwavering dedication, she absorbed their work ethic firsthand. “They were very hard workers,” she reflected. “I think they passed it on to me to be a hard worker also.” This foundation of discipline and perseverance, combined with her parents’ strong emphasis on education, set her on a path of academic excellence.

Education played a pivotal role in Suzanne’s journey. Despite being one of the few Asian students in her school, she embraced every opportunity. “I was the only Asian in my class forever. My brother was younger than me, and we didn’t have a lot of other Asians to interact with. But I made friends and felt like I was treated like any other kid.” She acknowledged prejudices existed but chose not to dwell on them. “Sometimes you would hear people say things like they try to act like they’re Asian,” she recalled. “It didn’t stop me from moving forward. I’d hear it but often just ignored it and kept going—you can’t dwell on it.”

Excelling in science and math, she followed a natural inclination toward the medical field. “I always did well in science and math… but I didn’t really have a great business plan.” Pharmacy school was her first step, but she soon craved a greater challenge. Inspired by the compassionate care of a family doctor in Holly Grove and her experiences working alongside physicians, she pursued medical school, eventually specializing in cosmetic surgery. “I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it,” she admitted, reflecting on her fellowship in Houston. “I was very fortunate to spend that year learning how cosmetic surgery could change people’s lives.”

Beyond her professional achievements, Suzanne remains deeply committed to her roots, carrying forward her parents’ values. These were reinforced through daily interactions and traditions passed down through generations. While her family didn’t celebrate Lunar New Year extensively, they acknowledged it in meaningful ways. “We didn’t really celebrate Chinese New Year’s, but we would recognize it just like my parents,” she shared. Her husband’s family, however, held more traditional gatherings, bringing the Asian community together for mahjong games, shared meals, and red egg parties to celebrate births. “My in-laws had red egg parties for the two kids, so all the Asian families would come together, and that was the tradition they carried.”

Over time, Suzanne noticed how cultural integration shaped each generation differently. While she and her husband, both born in the U.S., retained elements of their heritage while fully embracing American culture, their children grew up with predominantly non-Asian peers. “My kids, they’re the next generation. They have gone out with mainly Caucasian kids.” Still, she hopes that as traditions evolve, the fundamental values of hard work, family, and respect remain intact. Today, she extends that same sense of care to her community, serving on the Oscar Washington Scholarship Foundation board to help students pursue higher education. Through mentorship and involvement, she honors the lessons learned in her family’s grocery store about resilience, education, and giving back, ensuring future generations have opportunities to succeed while never forgetting where they came from.

Interview by Dr. Yifeng Hu (College of New Jersey)
Story by Saul Medina

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