Cole (China, Age 17): English 041

Before I came to the United States. It is one and half years ago. I was living in a City

in China, and that name is ShenZhen. That city is near to sea, so every week, it has many people come to visit. Because this is one of the famous city in China, many people from other provinces will comes here, and receives education and gets jobs. It makes this city has many worker and students, but the city does not has enough schools for all students. Everyone wants a good future and jobs, so most of people is working and studying hard for themselves. Which mean is although people living in this city has many overwhelming force, and it makes them feels very tired, we still have to face it and get over it. Same to the students, ShenZhen has many students, too. And everyone wants to be in a good college student. But some of guys are not good in some subjects, such as me. So we have to take lots of lessons after school. Sometimes it does helps, but sometimes it does not. It is bad, that mean I was worry about my college and tired of that, either.

But, I have some family in the United States. And they told my parents something that maybe my parents can try to send me to the United States, so I can receive some different education and environment. They considered about it for long time. And the last, they decided to send me to the United States. But my mother had a little worry about me, she was worry about if I can not be good in this new country or I can not protect myself. That is why she decided to immigrant to the United States with me. She did lots of things for me, if she just stay in China, she can has a good income and comfortable life. Immigrant with me made her become tired. So, I realize if I can not have some change, I will make many people be disappoint. And, also I will be disappoint and regret, either. I wasted lots of time when I was in China, I do not want it happen after I leave. I am trying that what I mother told me before I leave, “work hard”, and if I still wasting the time, she will not has any idea or help for me. It pushing me up, because I want to prove that I will be better.

           

About work - hard, I hear that word many times. Whether in China or in The United States. It appear in everywhere, everything that I did or maybe I  am doing. I always hear the word, like in studying, classes, or learning, trying something new. But, for my class, I could not handle every subjects. Everyone is telling me work- hard and try my best.  In China, or the United States we have to study hard. Specifically in China. In China, we have two important test. One of test is for go to high school, we call it “zhong kao”. Another one is for college, we call it “gao kao”. Those two test can change your own life and your future. Everyone wants to be a good college student, and have a good future. But it still has someone who does not interesting in study, Normally, these people are richer. So they can use “back door” to go to college. Those poor or normal person have to face the truth.

So I came to America,to become a second class citizen. When I studying in China, I was not good at every kinds of subjects, which mean is I could not take the test as well as my goal and get a invitation from a one of best college in Shenzhen. So, I decided continue my education in The United States. Finally, I came to New York. New York is one of the biggest city in the world, and it also has many immigrants they all from different country, because the United States is an immigrant country. That time, I be a foreigner to them. And the most important thing is I became like an half of illiterate at there. Because I could not be able to speak English. I had to accept this place and try to be a part of this place. Of course, I came to a new school, “International High School”, because I have to study, to continue my education. My classmates are same as me, they both from different country too, that is why it calls “International”. All of us have different cultures, languages, and even different beliefs. I was trying to know each one, and make some friends in those people. I had to suit the new culture and other things. While I studying in here, I knew two new tests, “Regents” and “SAT”. Everyone is working hard for it, and some of friends always tells me how important it is, and tells me work hard. Like my friends who is in China. Before I immigrant to The United States, I already met them, they were working on their own school work, and they do not want me waste the time at The United States like before.

Until right now, I still studying in this school, and of course I made some friends during these one and half years. Some of friends are come from China, some of are come from other countries. And I have many chinese friends, because the first time I came to this school I could not be able to speak English, which means I could only talk with someone who speak the same language to me. And they did help me, that’s why I can use English by a comfortable way now. We all helping each other to raise our English skills, and trying to improve ourselves. The most important thing for us never been change, it is “ hard - work ”, we all believe in hard- work can change ourselves. And this word and the United States changed my life, even my family’s life.