they could improve, but I became a hindrance to that goal. Over time, I did ease up and realize the mistake I was making, and as a result, my parents did indeed improve. My father developed the majority of his English from watching sports on TV and from interacting with customers at his job. My mother, in her free time, took ESL classes that our city offered. They then made the conversion from speaking purely Chinese at home to a mixture of Chinese and English. While my parents are still nowhere close to having impeccable English speaking skills, I am nevertheless rid of any shame I once held for them and only filled with pride to have witnessed such a transformation. Although the journeys that Tan and I underwent differ in some ways, the overall messages that can be taken from our accomplishment are the same: English, in all its different variations, is still a language, and the only person that can limit you from achieving your goals is yourself. From this experience I also learned a little life lesson on what it means to be a part of a family. Often, at times I tend to misplace my affection and respect for family, putting my own selfish interests first. I thought I was protecting my parents when it came to representing the American side of the family, but in the end I was only an obstacle to progress. I acted out of an individual love for my own reputation rather than honoring what would be best for the family. Sure, families are comprised of a group of related individuals, but what holds us all together is the understanding that everyone is equal and deserves love and respect all the same.
70
First-Year Writing 2010