[제 2회 드림에세이 수상작] Alyssa Lee -'A Difference'
Grade: 12 / High School: Torrance High School
I have always dreamt of becoming a “daddy’s girl”, but I never got a chance to be one. Growing up, my father was seldom around. He moved to Korea after having complications with my mother when I was six years old. He rarely came home to see me. Because of this, he was never there to help me with my homework and he was not able to go to award assemblies, back-to-school nights and my graduation. I loved my dad, but I always felt detached from him. I was angry at him for not being there for me when I needed him most. Instead, I looked to my uncle as a father figure and never considered my true father as my dad until just two years ago.
When I was 13, my dad had to close down his business in Korea. He then decided to come to America and reunite back with the family. My father was jobless for a year and, during that time, we as a family used our entire savings to get by. He could not keep a structured job, so last May he finally purchased a pet store located an hour away from our home. In the beginning, we all thought it was a great opportunity for our family to build up what we had lost in the previous years, but the business was not what it seemed. Customer complaints, lawsuits, thefts, and robberies were all part of the story the previous owner never divulged. Problems also existed with the puppies that my dad sold.
The teacup sized puppies would occasionally die due to their small figures. He had to bring at least a dozen of these fragile puppies home every day to make sure they did not die in his absence. My sister and I were constantly called by our dad in the middle of doing homework to help him handle the puppies that were staying for the night. We had to monitor their eating and their health. I also had to spend time with them so they would not become stressed and consequently come down with a fatal illness. Because English was my father’s second language, he was unable to understand many of the legal documents he received.
I remember sitting down with him for several hours a night, translating and filling out the paperwork involved in lawsuits filed by angry customers. Other times, I had to write letters to his clients, apologizing profusely for problems that were beyond my father's control. Throughout the year I watched my dad’s hardships become visible in his overall physical appearance. His face aged at what it seemed like a more rapid pace, he also gained 20 pounds, he had more gray hair, and he was always exhausted.
These times were anything but enjoyable, yet I finally came to know the stranger that I called my father. I learned to overcome my original thoughts and focus on how hard he tried to support our family. My father’s operation of the pet store was the most difficult time of my life, but I do not regret a single moment of it. Through this trying time, I learned how to run a business, from interpreting legal documents to customer service. I learned how to be a doctor to animals and I learned humility.
I learned to manage my time, handling several AP and honors courses, helping my father at his store, taking care of my younger sister, volunteering, and taking part in several clubs at school. I realized how much I enjoyed caring for sick beings, no matter how tiring and time consuming it was.
This experience has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Though it has already been over a year since my dad purchased the pet store, business is still inconsistent. Although I do not know every aspect of our financial situation, the expressions on my parents’ faces tell me everything I need to know. However, most importantly, I learned who my father was: a hardworking, responsible man who was willing to go great lengths to take care of our family. I can truly say that I am proud of this chaotic moment in my life and of my father, who was always there to support us.