Personal Statement: Pursuing The American Dream

It has always been clear to me that education comes at a cost. The cost of going to school in the United States was not a price I had to pay, but my parents. Optimistic and eager, my parents immigrated to the United States in their late 20’s determined to lead a better life than the one they had back home; they craved the American Dream. As I have grown older, I have come to understand that the American Dream was not for them, but for me. I have a plethora of educational and career opportunities that I would not have if my parents stayed in Vietnam.
As a first-generation college student, the process of applying to colleges was not only an overwhelming experience, but it was a lonely one. My parents did not understand why I would spend hours perfecting my essay or why I worried too much about paying for college. When college decisions started to come in the mail, I was ecstatic that I got into the

I am appreciative of everyone that has allowed for me to become the individual I am today. I know that if I did not live in such a welcoming community I would not be the same positive, hard-working, and responsible person I am today. I have dedicated my life to serving others and I try to be a leader in my community. I am ASB Vice-President, I intentionally plan events that are make my school a more welcoming and fun environment. In addition, I volunteer at local events around my city such as The Taste of Edmonds, Kidstock, the Edmonds Library Children’s Summer Program. Through these events, I have met many wonderful people that are devoted to their community and want to bring everyone together despite our differences. My experiences with community service and other leadership positions has allowed for me to understand the people around me better and strengthen my passions such as psychology due to wanting to help people in