[제 2회 드림에세이 수상작] Ye sul Min -'Living in America'

Grade: 12 / High School: Crescenta Valley High school

When I was 5th grader, my parent told me we are leaving to US, and that was one of the most shocking news I ever heard. As I leaved my home country, it wasn’t easy for me to accept new culture and language. I thought I can do it and do better than anyone. On the day when I stepped in the elementary building with holding my dad’s hand was the signal of new beginning.
Leaving in America is always a new challenge of my life.

Most of immigrants came to US with believe on one thing; American dream. But for me, first 4 years of my life in America was worst nightmare I experienced. Small kids in Elementary school called me “Chink” and Students in Middle school slight a girl. It was quite shocking time to me. Accepting a new culture of new country and having a hard time to learn 2nd language wasn’t easy for 12 years old girl.

I needed the time to relax and sometimes I cried and ask mom if we can go back to Korea. Living in America was not the way I wanted my life to be. The racism, wall of language, and making friends were the hardest homework I needed to solve out in my life. But God was by my side. I started to face against racism by doing my best in school.

I started to speak in English little by little and I started to make crack on the wall of English. I grew up and adolescence was done by a 10 months, I finally did it on making friends. I finally moved my first step to face the problem and run straight to my goal. I made my life goal to run toward it. I started to do my best on everything I faced. And there were nothing I can’t do if I do my best with my all effort.

My past years in America was really full of ups and downs. When I was in Elementary school, I was the one who earned Presidential Educational Award on the day of graduation. After that, I got all D's and all C's in my 2 years middle school. I misunderstood that I am so smart that I don't have to study anymore, and because of my poor grade, my whole family moved to La crescenta where I live right now.

I was suspended from school for cheating in the class when I was Freshman. I was legend in my school because I was the first student who begged teacher not to give me a referral.I think I was so stupid, but I think I am special and different than others. This might be my illusion, but I do think in this way. On my junior year, I lost my first best friend in my life by my mistake and that cause me a serious trouma. And now I'm senior. I learned so many things in this country, such as responsiblities, friendship, and great taste of successing a goal. I am senior and after 3 months, I'm going to be a university student, which means I am ready to be a adult.

I always thanks to my parents for bring me to America. America was the place where offers me a chance to live new life. America taught me the cultures of the world and led me experiences many things. America was, is, and will be the special place to me. There was hard time and sometimes I needed the place where I can sit down and look back on the track where I came from. America gave me a time to build up my goals and encourage me. Leaving in America was always being new challenge to me and still, it is a new challenge to me. I still have far more way to run toward my goal, and I will success my goal in this country, AMERICA.

 I LOVE AMERICA!!! :)