My Race Does Not Define My Success

My name is Alex and when I was three,

I lived in a rented house with my family.

I shared a room with my older brother.

It was difficult at times, but we love each other.

 My parents came to America in 1994

They wanted better opportunities they didn’t have before

My dad applied to jobs in different locations,

but they all turned him down because he had no higher education.

He eventually got a job that required little skill,

and worked extra hard just to pay the bills.

Mom wanted to work because money was tight,

but she had to watch me all day and night.

They came here for the American dream,

but being a minority is harder than it seems.

It’s been seven years, and now I am ten.

The struggles of my family haven’t improved since then.

Dad works more than ten hours a day,

he’s always tired and always away.

Mom found a part time job

while we’re at school because things are hard.

There are not many Asians in my grade,

I’m surrounded by people who’ve got it made.

I see the white children and all that they have.

Not having equal opportunities makes me mad.

They get picked up in their fancy cars

while I have to walk home very far.

My parents say that we have a better opportunity,

but with our race and class, there is only inequality.

I’m in the 8^th grade and all that I see

are my average grades and mediocrity.

My brother gets straight A’s and I cannot believe

that he is becoming the model minority.

He told me if I wanted to get good grades

I’d have to work harder in school and study every day.

I understood his words and all that he meant

as I looked around the classroom and saw the top one percent.

My parents work so hard just to get by

while these white parents make millions and don’t even try.

To fix this inequality I must be able to be

like my brother and get into a prestigious university.

My brother is living out my parent’s dream

by doing so well with so little means.

Now that I’m in high school, I fully understand

why my parents came here and all of their plans.

I am now a sophomore and I cannot believe

that I am actually becoming the model minority.

I’ve excelled in English, science, and math,

and I’m making my way to the top of my class.

My dedication to school lets everyone see

how my studying led me to a 4.3.

I hope all of my hard work will finally pay off

as I get into college and have a great job.

I’m glad I listened to my brother’s advice

as I figured out that education is a useful in life.

I have realized that my race does not define my success

as long as I work hard and do my best.

It’s my last year of high school and I am now eighteen,

I’m the valedictorian of my school and going to UCSD.

My parents are happy that I’m getting a higher education

and changing the view of Asians across the nation.

Being a first generation college student allows me to be

able to rise up the racial hierarchy.

The pressures of my family led me to this

and although it was rough, it is true bliss.

I am to end the unfairness of American society

as my education and future job will rid this minority ideology.

Being on the same track as my older brother

allows us to support our parents and take care of each other.

Everything I’ve accomplished is quite amazing

as the daughter of immigrants who came here with nothing.

Being away at college is so surreal.

Getting a good education and job is a package deal.

My parents want me to be whatever I want to be,

so I want a job that will shine light on the minority.

I look at magazines, movies, and ads,

not seeing Asians represented makes me mad.

People need to understand the struggles immigrants endure

by allowing Asians to be seen in the mass culture.

My parents worked hard for me to get to this stage

so I want Asians and whites to be on the same page.

Being a director lets me depict Asians

from our lives to our culture on every station.

We’re not represented as ninjas doing kung fu,

but we’re integrated with society in all that we do.