Mechanical Engineering Student Graduates With His Family

HHARRY CHHIEU FINISHED his mechanical engineering degree at the same time his mother, Carol, and his brother, Anthony, graduated from the UA.

“This is such a big step since my mom has always been preaching about how we should go to college. She wants us to make something of ourselves. Being able to do that with her is so big,” he said.

Achieving the Goal

Carol Chhieu, previously known as Pech, fled the Khmer Rouge regime in 1981 and built a life here in America.

Changing her name was just one of many adjustments she had to make when she arrived in California at the age of 15.

She had to learn in English long before the internet was available, painstakingly translating her native language of Khmer. She now speaks multiple languages.

“Life of refugee was tough. Most people don’t finish high school. In my generation, very few people graduated from high school,” said Carol.

Carol ended up raising a daughter and two sons, by herself. As her sons started pursuing their education, she realized she wanted to finish hers.

“After a while you get older, you get wiser. And I always wanted to go back to school. I was just waiting for the kids to grow older,” said Carol.

The plan worked out better than she imagined. Carol is a literacy learning major and hopes to eventually teach abroad.