My parents

When my parents first came to this country they had nothing. They didn’t speak the language, they didn’t have any skills, and they had no money. My dad cleaned people’s houses while my mom worked at McDonalds but at the same time they also knew they wouldn’t be able to survive living that way. They saw education as the key to their success and both managed to take classes at the community college while working full time. Then came a key moment in our family’s history. My dad’s brothers and sisters decided to move to Texas to venture into the dry cleaning and restaurant business. This would be the first time my family would slit up since being in the United States. My dad decided to stay in Virginia to continue his schooling while his parents, brothers and sisters moved to Texas. Many of his friends who arrived in the US decided to continue working their manual labor jobs, earn and save money, and not think about school. Today, both my parents have earned degrees and have been working in Fairfax County Public Schools for over 15 years. Many of their friends who didn’t go to school are still doing the same jobs they did when they first arrived. My parents, because of their education, have continued to climb from one position to the next.

I told this story to some of my students after they served their detention on Tuesday. I told them whatever their situation is at home, however bad it is….education is their key to making it out and not to throw it away. I told them that it may not seem like it sometimes, but in this country, if you want to work hard, you will make it. You’re only limited by how hard you’re willing to work. I reminded them that my parents didn’t know English and were able to find work and go to school. There are people in this country who know the language and are unwilling in some way to find a job. I reiterated to them that as long as you work hard, you will be successful. I hope that story will have some type of lasting impact on them.