My strong belief in taking responsibility for me and my family actually began in earnest, when we moved from India to the United States, six years ago. I don’t recall having very strong beliefs about anything specific in the past, but as I got older and especially when I moved to America, major changes began to take place in my life.
I had just completed eighth grade and was about to enter ninth, when we moved to the U.S. My family was very happy in their native country of India; the only reason the decision was made to move, was because of me. My parents wanted me to be assured of a good education, which would enable me to enjoy a much better life in the future. When I began ninth grade in the U.S., I finally realized how important it was that I concentrate diligently on my schoolwork in order to succeed in my education and also, start taking on some increased responsibilities. I have an older brother who is disabled, so I am the only hope for my parents, to eventually help take care of my family. My parents have always taken care of me, for the most part, so I believe I have a responsibility to take care of them, as well.
At this time, I find my job to be the most difficult part of my life. I first started working when I was about sixteen and half years old and so far, I have only worked at two different places. I used to work in Chester, VA, at a Super 8 Motel as a front desk clerk, where I gained experience working all three shifts. I didn’t have as many responsibilities
You: Soon after I graduated from high school I went to work at a convenient store that was open 24 hours and 7 days a week. I was a night clerk that worked from 11PM to 7AM for over a year. I also worked the 2nd shift from 3PM to 11PM for almost a year until they promoted me to a shift supervisor. I enjoyed the 3rd shift more than the 2nd shift, but I can handle either one. It will be much easier for me to work the 3rd shift now since I just finished my business degree at
I have not had very much experience as an employee during my youth. My first time doing real world work was the day that I volunteered at my father’s office at the New York City Department of the Aging for two hours. It was apparently a day off from work because no one other than him, myself, and his supervisor were there, but I helped my father organize and file some papers. After my brief stint as a volunteer, my first, and only, actual job I was paid for was over this summer at the Eileen Abraham Insurance Agency. I got the job through a program called the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). This program helped young adults, like myself, get summer jobs around the city in various different fields. I specifically chose the Eileen
When I was still in my country Nigeria, it was my everyday wish to travel to the United States. Like most people in my country would say, America is the second heaven things are gotten with ease, good degrees are gotten with ease, houses are owned with ease, money is made with ease and foods are gotten with ease. When I finally arrived here, I discovered that the reverse was the case. Now at the age of 18, I have to work in order to raise funds for my education and to get good grades are not easy. Without hard work a student cannot make an A. Right now I am a bit confused with either going back home to live dependent with my parents or I stay here to bring out the best I can be and be dependent on myself. In Robert Kosi Tettes article, An
My parents always wanted to give their children the life they never had. I am Mexican-American, both of my parents immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. before I was born. I have numerous relatives, including my older sister, who do not have the same opportunities I have to achieve success because they are undocumented. For them, college was only a dream that could never be attained. Being the first U.S. citizen out of my entire family affected the way I thought about life. It was expected that I would attend college because I was the only one who had access to all the resources granted to American citizens. Although, I agreed with my family, the pressure to succeed and be a role model to my younger siblings was overwhelming.
Being the oldest, I grew up with many responsibilities. I have always been the one to set the example, create the right path, and be the role model for my younger siblings. My single mother worked day and sometimes even nights to provide us all with what we needed, never failing to keep a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs, so she along with my brother and sister became my motivation to become the best I can be. I knew schooling would be an issue for us economically; there was no way my mother could ever help me pay and there was no way I would allow her to overwork herself. So I made the decision to leave home at the age of seventeen and move to Oregon. Becoming a resident of Oregon allows me to afford schooling at a much better cost, even if it means being so far away. It is very difficult being distant from my family, but I am doing this for them. Finally, I reached the moment in my life where I saw what was most important to me and it was to be the best I can be for my family.
As a first-generation American student, I have had the opportunity to commit to my education while making positive contributions to better the well-being of my family. My father served as the sole financial provider and caretaker of the family during the absence of my mother. He also became afflicted with various health conditions including a heart attack and stomach ulcers. In addition, my father's physical and psychological condition worsened with age and I, as the eldest child, procured the responsibility of making sure that all of his needs were taken care of.
Prior to moving to the United States, my life was less challenge and much easier. I was not an independent person. I did not know to do a lot of things in the past. For instance, I could not cook, I never took bus, I did not know where to get an ID or a driver license, and I was not sure where to fix my scooter if it was broken. I simply made a phone call to either my father or my mother, and they handled everything for me. I could have done all the above things, but I did not want to because it was nice to have my parents take care of me. Additionally, I often spent time with my family and friends. We planned cook-out dinners, baby showers
My parents came to the U.S. with nothing but the money in their pockets. We lived with my three aunts for a year, until my father could figure what to do. He decided to start a convenience store to try to provide for his family. He was not making as much as he was in Korea, but he had to make do with what he had. Due to this lack of income, I had to attend four different elementary schools: one in Korea, two in Baltimore County, and one in Howard County. Even though two of them were in Baltimore County, I still could not maintain my friendships because I could not drive, and my parents had to work all the
My mother immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 16, all by herself! I can barely imagine being in college next year, nonetheless, moving to a new country and beginning a new life. As my older brother by 6 years and I would walk past those expensive Jordans in the mall, or stroll by the shiny Mercedes Benz parked on the corner of the street, my mother would promise that good grades and an education could one day afford us these extra facets to life. So believe me, before baseball practice, homework would be done, done
I was born in a middle class family in China and my parents care about me very much. Before I was even born, my farther adjusted the business hour of his clinic to make more profit by accepting more patients and my mother was a nurse who worked in my dad’s clinic, so they saved the money to send me to school and prepare to move to the U.S. Most of the members of my family already moved to the U.S. Moreover, once my aunt got her U.S. citizenship, she, as the sponsor, was able to apply for us to come. When I was 15, we finally got our immigrant visas and my parents told me we were ready for move to the America. Therefore, we sold everything we had in China we were staying at my uncle’s house in Hong Kong because we need to take the airplane from Hong Kong to Missouri, U.S. I still remember what my uncle said to me because he looked at me with a very serious face that caught my attention. “Qianxin, the America is different from China. I’ve heard people said life in the America is harder than China. However, if you work hard enough, you will get what you deserve.” The words are always in my mind. I tried to do my best in school and in everything because I want to be the person who can help my family.
My parents Immigrated from Poland to the United States in search for better opportunity for the children that they planned to have. When my parents finally made the move, they started with nothing and no one to turn to; they did not even know how to speak English. All my parents knew for sure was that they were going to raise three children in America and do all they could possibly do to motivate and make them passionate for school. My parents have always wanted their children to achieve the careers of their dreams and be able to support their own family as well as be happy with their lives. My parents have struggled with money their entire lives, which is another reason why they did all they could to get to America and motivate their children for schooling. They did not want their children to struggle with money the way that they did. But this led another issue, affording college. My parents did not have enough money for their children to attend college. Because of this, I have done my best in school to earn outstanding grades and do my best to earn scholarships.
Back in 2012, when my family decided to move to the United States, I was upset of leaving my friends and life style for a new life. My mother attempted to talk to me, but I reminded disappointed. I was only a kid blind by a bad tempered. After a long week of holidays, my father had a conversation with me not only he was trying to persuade me into moving out of the country without him, but also to take care of my mother and brothers for him. This was a huge responsibility for me, being “the man and leader of the house” was like receiving the greatest promotion of my teen life.
When my family traveled to the United States, I realized that life was challenging me to survive. The first day was a hurdle for me because I could not cook, clean my home, iron my clothes, etc. I cried every day when I remembered my mother because had potential to do all that stuff. At the same time I had another problem. I could not find a driver to take me to school. My father eventually found someone to take me to school by my own car. His name was Aziz and he was kind to me because he didn’t angry when I was late. I admire my parents since they always have helped me to resolve any big
To begin with, my parents come from two different countries. My mom’s nationality is the Philippine’s and my dad is Canadian. My parents culture which is their values, beliefs and behavior are completely different. When it comes to school, nothing is more important to my mom than school and for my dad, he never finished high school because he had to work at a young age to provide for his family and for him, school wasn’t the only knowledge in life, so he wasn’t strict at all towards my education. My mom grew up in a farm where the closest city was 6 hours by bus. She had four brothers and four sisters and she’s the oldest sister which meant, she had to take care of the young ones and her parents by going to school all at the same time. “Women have limited roles outside of marketing and family responsibilities” (Rural poverty in the Philippines) indeed, my mom had to walk for hours to help my grandparents marketing since she went to school and she knew how to count. She had a very rough life and I can
The American family has many different functions, all equally important, but I believe one that is crucial in our world is teaching children how to be kind. I believe that kindness is a learned trait, and that human beings are born cruel. Children can be especially cruel before they are taught how to be kind to others. For example, in my elementary school I drew a picture that I thought was rather good, and I gave it to my teacher. When I came back from lunch I was horrified to find out that a boy in my class had added a vulgar addition and had ruined my paper. The boy thought it was funny and he seemed shocked when I started to cry. This experience made me believe that children don’t know when they act cruelly, and that they have to be taught how to be kind. Most of that teaching comes from their home. Of course, school plays an important role in this as well. School teaches lessons on sharing, asking politely, and how to resolve conflict; however, those lessons are more on how to interact appropriately with others in a society. Children usually learn how to actually be kind from their parents and older siblings, and if they don’t learn kindness they might resort to bullying other children in school because that is all they have been taught. I have observed how my family and interactions with my siblings have taught me kindness, and because I was taught to be kind, I believe that it is important for all families to teach their children how to be kind.