In the mid-nineties, 18-year-old Hua Hsu was designing fanzines and exploring record stores, while Ken, obsessed with Dave Matthews and Abercrombie & Fitch, was from a long-established Japanese-American family. Despite their differences, both felt excluded by American culture. Their friendship grew through deep conversations, car trips, and a search for identity. Tragically, Ken was murdered three years later. Be Yourself is more than a youth memoir; it's a poignant exploration of adolescent angst, the immigrant experience, and the quest for belonging.