I Am Not Jessica Chen

Content Warning: This section of the guide features depictions of racism.

Aaron arrives at Jessica’s to accompany Jenna to the exhibition with a possible solution to the body switch situation: Jenna needs to wish for her old life back in a bid to undo her original wish. At Aaron’s urging, Jenna tries it right away, but it doesn’t work. When she doesn’t respond with enthusiasm to his ideas of replicating the original context of the wish, Aaron realizes that Jenna doesn’t actually want to switch back.

Aaron wonders why Jenna would want this life so badly, and she explains how someone like Cathy understands her jealousy and insecurity around not being good enough. Since her parents moved to this country to give her a better life, Jenna feels like a failure if she is anything less than perfect. Aaron suggests there are worse things to be than “untalented”—he would trade all of his brilliance and success to have his mother back, for instance. While Jenna acknowledges this, she confesses that she hates herself too much to genuinely wish for her old life back.

A livid Aaron insists that Jenna cannot see herself the way others see her. He points out her strengths, such as her artistic talent and vision, and her sensitivity and empathy toward both the people and animals around her.