My Parents' Dream by Ehhser

My Parents' Dream by Ehhser - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

When I was a little kid, I thought everything was equally distributed. Rainbows and sunshine. I thought everyone was born with the same amount of health and wealth. However, my theory was erroneous. I was born into a family that had nothing, but gave me everything. They ran from the Burmese army just to survive. They ran day and night until shelter was found. During the long runs from the enemy, for lunch they had: rice instead of burgers, eating from a leaf instead of plates and if they received 3 pieces of meat they felt blessed. Instead of forks and spoons, they used their hands. Finally they found a camp where we didn’t have to run anymore. It was called Tham Him Refugee Camp. Although we did not have to run anymore, surviving was still gruesome. My parents would work jobs that are back-breaking, labor jobs from sunrise to sunset to raise and feed my siblings and I. Of course, I did not understand any of this. I was just a kid, I never knew my parents worked so tremendously hard just to have rice on our plates. Eggs were something we’d be lucky to have on our plate.
One day, my family and I received the amazing opportunity to come to America, but this means leaving behind my biggest sister and brother. They all urge us to go and chase after the education and work we were desiring. To come to the United States to get the education we did not receive back in the refugee camp and to be successful. We came to the U.S. on September 06, 2006. What was worse about moving to a new place across the globe was the language we did not spoke. School was arduous on my 2 sisters and I. We did not feel welcomed. We were bullied everyday by the way we talked, dressed, and how we did not speak English, nonetheless, understand the language. We were called names like,“ching chongs, ling ling, and etc.” and asked if we ate dogs. We didn’t understand what they were saying so when they laugh, we laugh along with them. None of my siblings graduated high school. It wasn’t because they weren’t smart enough, but because their egos was smashed continuously everyday. All my parents ever wanted was to see their kids have an education they never had. They want to see us graduate with some kind of degree so we never work a day in our life like they did.
My parents held on to the same job they got since we got to America. Not a day goes by that I hear them complain. They take the bus everyday to work. My dad work the minimum wage at a factory; cleaning, doing work in the sun, and laundry. My mom worked at a 99cent Only Store; stocking, carrying heavy packages, and cleaning. All for the minimum wage of only $8.25 at the time. They still worked through sickness and injuries. I remember growing up, feeling embarrassed about my culture and my parents. I remember not wanting to be seen in public with them. I thought they were so eerie by the way they were dressed and was so ashamed they couldn’t understand English. They did not fit in with others. Little did i know they’re the only two people in my life that will work till their legs fall off for me. Today, my dad is almost 66 years old and my mom is 61 years old. These two human beings will still work till their legs fall off to see me succeed. The only thing I should be feeling ashamed of was myself ever doubting my parents capability.
Although my dreams of world peace and equality might never happen, my parents dreams of seeing one of their kids graduating will come true. I will be the first one in my family, ever, to be graduating high school and furthering my education. All thanks to my dad and mom, who gave us everything and believed in us! Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first” (Matthew Jacobson). Never complain about what the lifestyle your parents provided you and never be ashamed of what your parents couldn’t give you. It was probably all they had.