Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. George Washington was the first President. I am the first son of the first generation of the first family members of my family to step foot in America. Like the many other firsts before me, I have been gifted with the opportunity to be the leader, the trendsetter. I am the first of my family to travel blindly into the American Society: the society that has devoured the souls of men leaving them empty husks for recycling. This way I can be the first to set off the mines and traps society has lain before me. I have been truly blessed.
In all joking aside, I am truly the first of my family to be born an American. My parents came from Guandong, China the unofficial dim sum capital. As my mother described life there, “It was a simple life, we farmed, we harvested and we try to avoid the leeches in the rice paddies. But there was nothing more or less to this kind of life.” Eventually the desire for a better life drove my grandparents and parents to immigrate to America. My parents finally met in college and a few years later married. Then I came along. Unfortunately, I did not come with an attached instruction manual.
My parents, although lovingly raised me, may not have had the clearest idea of how to raise a child. My first few years, my family and I lived in Queens with my paternal grandparents due to financial issues. Eventually, my parents saved up enough money to buy an apartment in Brooklyn. For a while, everything was literally all fun and games. However, when school started so did the “problems”. My parents only experienced the last fourth of the K – 12 education system and their English was still shaky. As a result, my English never truly developed. I wound up in ESL until second grade. Culturally I was more Chinese than American and in a primarily white and Latino neighborhood that led to a lot of unpleasant nicknames and bullying from classmates. Later I “escaped” when my parents moved to Bayside, Queens for the better schools there. Fortunately, my labels and accent stayed behind in Brooklyn. But my parent’s lack of knowledge began to show itself. The specialized high school exam and community service were common information to most parents. I had to constantly pester my friends and counselor for information. In high school, I stumbled my way through the college process, the SAT, and FAFSA all of which have changed since my parent’s time.
Yet, even with all of the bumbling around I did, I still managed to make it to college. Although, I wish I had had half of the information I gave to my little brother. He is enjoying not having to blindly feel his way to college. Yet, I still appreciate the pain and agony my journey brought me. Without it, I would not have the willpower to try to be the first in my family to go to graduate school. I guess being the first does have its perks. If I get into graduate school I can secure bragging rights in my family.
