Dear Dad

Dear Dad,

You started off with one dollar

No help from your mother or father

You came to America so young

With Vietnamese, as your native tongue

You had to leave your family and departure

In order to learn a brand new culture

And survive and work for your future

Ever thing was all foreign to you

You honestly had no clue

When people were being racists by mistreating you

But with these difficult trials you grew

Into a man who could purchase his own shoes

You started off by being a pizza boy

Your first paycheck must have brought you so much joy

Going up the ladder you started to cut hair

But you didn’t stop there

Cause right after, you worked at a mechanic shop

Still, I’m sure you were glad you cut hair though

Since you saved lots of money by cutting your kid’s hair at home

By using the money you earned

And the experiences that allowed you to learn

You created a future for your family

And turned the American Dream into a reality

I believe you shouldn’t work anymore

But you didn’t

And you haven’t

Cause you’re the kind of man that gives it his all

No matter how difficult the obstacle or how great the wall

I remember Mom told me that everyone in her family said you would account to nothing

But you proved them wrong and became something

Something amazing

By chasing after your dreams and fighting

You became something that is irreplaceable to your wife

Something irreplaceable in my life

Who knew?

The amazing things that you could do

Even when your path was askew

You were able to turn that one dollar into something new

And at the same time, you carried your whole family too

I’m glad you made it

You are living proof that the sky is the limit

Enough about the past

Let’s look to the future

It would give me great pleasure

To return the gesture

What you have done for me is so grand

I hope you understand

That when I say, “Thank you for everything you have done”

I really mean it

I’m so glad to be your son

I can’t wait for the day

For when I get the chance to tell my kids about their grandfather

The things he has done

The way he raised his son

The way he loved everyone

One day I hope I can become as great of a dad

I’ll try my best to make you proud

For you dad

Love, your son.

Christopher L. Tran