Personal Narrative: My Pursuit Of The American Dream

The sun shining down on my skin, the sand in between my toes and the ocean water rushing past me reminds me of the blissful summers I spent with my whole family. Seeing everyone smile and laugh together fills my body with warmth and comfort. One story my mother once told me forever altered my perspective on the simplicity of life.
My mother escaped Vietnam when she was only seventeen years old due to communist rule and oppressive conditions. After enduring one year of suffering through two different refugee camps and leaving everything behind, she finally arrived in America to begin a new life. Her pursuit of the American Dream has changed how I view my life and everyone surrounding me. Seeing how grueling the process was for her to come to America has inspired me to work harder in school and has given …show more content…
When my mother came to America, she set me up for a brighter future. She has given me the opportunities that she never had when she left Vietnam. As a result, I will use every chance that is given to me to be the best that I can be whether it is doing well academically or being a well-rounded person. My mother did not tell me this story until I was a freshman in high school. Before that, I was a typical teenager who did not know any better. Now, I have grown more mature in my thoughts and actions when others voice their opinion. I have come to realize how important school is and that it is essential for my success in the near future. Through her experience, I have learned that I cannot judge someone on how they react in a situation. I used to judge someone so quickly but I cannot do that because I do not know the other half of their story. I have to imagine life from their perspective and change my course of thinking to be more understanding. The most valuable lesson I took from her journey was that I should not take everything for granted. My mother had to leave her home, her