Personal Narrative: My Experience As An Immigrant

At a young age I have faced many strenuous challenges that molded me into the person I am today. When moving to America with my mother, she left her family behind her in order for me to gain a better life that I would not be able to have in Vietnam. Coming to America as immigrants, with no knowledge of the culture or language, was a complete culture shock for us. It was inevitable that my mother and I would run into problems as we try to assimilate. America was like a dream. It is a country where there are endless opportunities to make something out of yourself. However, despite that I was living in America I felt un-foreign and un-American. My first affliction was the language. Undoubtedly, my communication skills were nonexistent. As

My mother would occasionally take me to work with her at the nail salon while sitting at her station I would notice how rudely customers would treat her due to her lack of English. At that point, I realized that my mother did not sacrifice everything to be ridiculed all because she could not speak English. A sense of determination washed over me. With the aid of my ESL class, in addition, to listening to other people’s discourse of the language, I gradually became fluent in the glorious English language. While learning English, it sent me on an unforgettable journey each step I took felt like I was paving my own pathway to success. After years of feeling un-American, I was committed to teaching and changing myself with knowledge, soon enough, learning the English language allowed me to adapt to my environment. Growing up as an immigrant kid, I lusted for eloquence and fluency after discovering the significance and strength of communication. Through this ordeal, the barrier hindered to everything I wanted to achieve. I wanted to make friends, gain a deeper insight on life, but most of all I wanted to be somebody. Granted the language barrier made the goals I had a harder reach, however, in the end my whole character profoundly grew after breaking down the barrier. I changed from being invisible in a corner to a member of the National Honor Society. I changed from being anti-social