Echoes at the Dinner Table
My mother never wore a cap or gown, but she always ensured I would receive mine. My early childhood was shaped by my mother’s consistent emphasis on the importance of formal education, a luxury that was inaccessible in her childhood. This has since fostered an intrinsic appreciation for learning—one rooted in an inclination to not only expand opportunities for myself, but also for people navigating similar circumstances to my mother’s. My mom’s most recent memorable phrase in Vietnamese includes, “Con phải học hành giỏi, để sau này không phải kho như mẹ.” In other words, she would always tell me to study hard so that my future would never reflect her own. Inspired by my mother’s conviction in the value of schooling, I have come to realize education is not just a means to further my success, but a motive to challenge societal norms and expectations that continue to impede communities even now.
My journey in education stems back to my five-year-old self at the dinner table with my mom, sitting adjacent to me, holding bright, numbered flashcards, and patiently sounding out each number. While her “two” may have sounded more like “chew,” I quickly recognized her story laid the blueprint for my own: paving a path of resilience, grit, and perspective. In my academic context, I came to see education as a privilege that many others had taken as routine. Whether I encounter adversity in the classroom or my day-to-day life, I still return to that same dinner table with my mom, determined to ensure I have opportunities that were withheld from her. My cultivation of academics is a catalyst to reclaim inherited narratives and underscores the identity I carry with pride.
The value I place on education has never solely been personal; rather, it has laid the foundation for other ventures, to give back to communities that face the same issues my mom once struggled with. Beyond school walls, I have volunteered in underserved neighborhoods where access to education remains limited, spending my summers reading to children at a local elementary school to promote literacy and a love of learning. Many of these students come from immigrant families or socioeconomically challenged backgrounds, and they have overcome hardships far surpassing their peers, such as language barriers, limited educational support, and instability within their homes. I wasn’t simply retelling childhood fantasies, but offering a safe space for curiosity and connection when there was none.
In light of my community engagement, these experiences have instilled a sense of empathy and insight, and furthered my understanding of the power of education when shared with others. I witnessed firsthand how the right encouragement can develop reluctant readers into their voice, hesitant learners grow confident, and young minds become excited for the chance to be heard. Moreover, my actions are rooted in a lived understanding of what education can offer, and more importantly, what its absence can deny.
Navigating a non-traditional educational background required me to independently manage complex systems such as college applications and advanced placement courses. In doing so, I developed self-advocacy and tenacity through overcoming adversities that were not initially apparent to me. These experiences have fortified my ability to approach challenging circumstances in unfamiliar environments, shaping me into a more resourceful individual with the necessary skills for future academic and personal endeavors.
Driven by my mother’s resolve, my pursuit of the transformative power of education remains steadfast—barriers may have defined my mother’s journey, but mine is defined by dismantling them. I carry forward a quiet but powerful legacy: that education with intention can reform not only our generation but also those who will inherit a world designed by the choices we make today.
