I am a skinny Filipino kid that joined the math club in high school whose mom and aunt have worked in nurses since I can remember. My older brother loves Japanimation and cares more about having fun rather studying. Needless to say, my family looked at me to achieve their dream of having “a doctor in the family.” While I tried to achieve their dream, I knew early on—possibly when I was watching a college basketball game a player’s bone popped out of his knee. From that point I knew I would never become the “family doctor.”
If you are a first generation American, you know that not pursuing their dreams can cause major backlash. They will remind you the long hours worked and every sacrifice they made. These constant reminders made me lie about my desire to become a family doctor since kindergarten. No one wants to disappoint family. …show more content…
During high school my cousin got married to a “white guy.” Jack a.k.a. white guy did something different and I wanted in. Based on his guidance I quickly decided to become the token Filipino kid that has dedicated his life to the pursuit of “black gold.” In my family’s preferred terms, Jack helped me decide to pursue a career in petroleum engineering.
So, how does a Filipino kid who joined the math club decide to become an oilman? Math. Jack introduced me what he did and showed me that I could use my math skills to solve real life problems that would have real world implications in an ever-changing environment.
Jack, who turned out to be Jewish, also taught me to embrace the cultural divide between myself and what he termed “the good ol’ boy” network. Jack quickly told me the secret to getting along with these guys: Show them you’re smart and no one cares who you are or where you are from. It turned out he was right: They didn’t care that I looked different, they cared that I could solve problems and do
If you are a first generation American, you know that not pursuing their dreams can cause major backlash. They will remind you the long hours worked and every sacrifice they made. These constant reminders made me lie about my desire to become a family doctor since kindergarten. No one wants to disappoint family. …show more content…
During high school my cousin got married to a “white guy.” Jack a.k.a. white guy did something different and I wanted in. Based on his guidance I quickly decided to become the token Filipino kid that has dedicated his life to the pursuit of “black gold.” In my family’s preferred terms, Jack helped me decide to pursue a career in petroleum engineering.
So, how does a Filipino kid who joined the math club decide to become an oilman? Math. Jack introduced me what he did and showed me that I could use my math skills to solve real life problems that would have real world implications in an ever-changing environment.
Jack, who turned out to be Jewish, also taught me to embrace the cultural divide between myself and what he termed “the good ol’ boy” network. Jack quickly told me the secret to getting along with these guys: Show them you’re smart and no one cares who you are or where you are from. It turned out he was right: They didn’t care that I looked different, they cared that I could solve problems and do