For anyone who is a first or second generation American
In less than two weeks, I’ll be taking the oath to become a U.S. citizen. I think it might involve reciting the Preamble to the Constitution or maybe Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s weird to have lived 15 years here and not be officially “American.” Now I can vote and work for the government - even the CIA! I qualify for federal scholarships I couldn’t apply for before and I can also skip getting a visa when I go to Europe in January. There are a lot of benefits of being an American that Americans might not realize. The only bad part is I have to turn in my Chinese passport.
I wonder if I’ll cry at the ceremony. Since it will take place in some seminar room at a nondescript building in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa, crying might seem silly---but not so silly when I think about what it represents - the immigrant experience, my family’s journey to the land of opportunity. My parents may not have exactly achieved “the American Dream,” but because of their struggles, I can. I have no language barrier, I have an American education, I have American friends…. My closest friend at Beijing Today, the paper where I worked, wants so badly to at least see the U.S. but she has little opportunity even as a tourist. Chinese are only allowed to visit the U.S. as students, immediate family of U.S. residents, or in expensive tour groups which most people can’t afford. Think about how lucky we are to be born (or in my case, brought over at the age of 4) in the richest country in the world. We have access to knowledge, comforts, and opportunities in our daily lives that billions of people will never have or never even know to want. When I think about this fact, I wonder why I ever complain about anything.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So if life already gave you lemonade, you could make some really delicious punch out of it.
I wonder if I’ll cry at the ceremony. Since it will take place in some seminar room at a nondescript building in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa, crying might seem silly---but not so silly when I think about what it represents - the immigrant experience, my family’s journey to the land of opportunity. My parents may not have exactly achieved “the American Dream,” but because of their struggles, I can. I have no language barrier, I have an American education, I have American friends…. My closest friend at Beijing Today, the paper where I worked, wants so badly to at least see the U.S. but she has little opportunity even as a tourist. Chinese are only allowed to visit the U.S. as students, immediate family of U.S. residents, or in expensive tour groups which most people can’t afford. Think about how lucky we are to be born (or in my case, brought over at the age of 4) in the richest country in the world. We have access to knowledge, comforts, and opportunities in our daily lives that billions of people will never have or never even know to want. When I think about this fact, I wonder why I ever complain about anything.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So if life already gave you lemonade, you could make some really delicious punch out of it.