Family

Families are... complicated to say the least. They can be frustrating, disappointing, and misunderstanding, At some times it can be confusing as to why we spend so much time with them. Although confusing for some time, it becomes clear in the times that matter. They are the people you can count on when you're at your highest highs, but they're also the ones you can count on when you're at your lowest lows. 

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As a child of two immigrants, I have always been grateful for the hard work and challenges they overcame. My mother was one of eight children whose immigration was sponsored by a family in Kansas. She ended up working hard in school and on the farm, and despite financial struggles, she earned a master's degree on scholarship to Oklahoma State University where she met my father.

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I remember listening to my father's stories at the dinner table throughout my childhood. In my eyes, he was truly a hero. He left his friends, family, and entire life as a 14-year-old teenager. He dealt with pirates, he was stranded on an island, dealt with racism, and lived on $2 a day working for a Chinese restaurant. Despite this, he worked hard in school and found a way to persevere to earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Following this, he worked on bringing his family over from Vietnam one by one while preparing for his own. It can sometimes be frustrating with a language barrier still present and misunderstandings, but I will always be thankful for all his work and be inspired by his work ethic. 

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My older sister, Mai, and I had a typical sibling relationship where there would seem to always be something to argue about or fight over superiority of some sort. Despite this, there was and always will be an underlying love that wants the best for one another. With her being the older sibling, she taught me about the life of a teenager in modern-day America (and how to do my laundry). I credit a large part of my competitive nature to my relationship with her, as well as my ability to remain calm in situations where two sides do not see things in the same manner. Although we may have our conflicts, we will always be there to support one another in the things that matter.

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This brings me to my younger sister Anh. Anh and I have always seemed to be closer to one another than the rest of the family. I believe this is because of my instinct to be the "typical older brother". This was also because we were the closest in age and on the same high school tennis team for two years. She and I have shared many lessons, sometimes I taught her, and sometimes she taught me. Although school and life have separated us and we do not interact as much, she will always be my little sister and I know that we will be there for one another when it is important.

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The final member of my family is my dog, Rascal. Rascal unfortunately passed in Summer 2021, but he lived a long and great life filled with many pets, treats, and love. Rascal was a miniature schnauzer, but more importantly, he was like a brother to me. Growing up with my dad working late, I would spend most days with my two sisters and my mother. This made me ecstatic when I learned we were getting Rascal to join the family. Rascal and I would go on many walks, share many memories together, and become best friends as I was growing up. I am very grateful to have had the time I had with him and will have him in my heart forever.

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My family life has been very complicated, to say the least, but it does not change how I have always felt about them. I truly could not be more grateful for my family. Each of them has supported me from the beginning, made me the person I am today, and put me in a position to pursue my goals.