American Dream

American Dream

A long time ago, many Chinese people were sold to America as laborers. During the 18^th century, there was a war called the Second Opium War. England’s government sold opium to China that made some Chinese people unhealthy addicted. Also the culture started to change and many Chinese died during the war, and many places were destroyed.  The Chinese government signed an unequal treaty with England and America and after the war was over, the Chinese government had economic problems, so they decided to sell Chinese people to become “coolies” which means unskilled laborer to the United States. Many Chinese died after they came to America because Chinese laborers did not have food to eat and did not understand the language. My great-grandfather was one of the many Chinese people that came to America and became a laborer. He had two sons in China, and his youngest son was my grandfather. However, my grandfather didn’t even remember what his father looked like because he was too young during that time. The Second Opium War affect my great-grandfather’s life and without time to live with my grandfather, father, and me.

At that time, my great-grandmother became stronger after her husband left home. She was born in a wealthy family, and she did not work until she married with my great-grandfather. However, when my great-grandfather left his home and went to the United States, my great-grandmother started to work and do everything by herself.  In addition, my great-grandmother had to provide a good education for her two sons. She was very busy because she had to teach and give support to the kids when they came home. Therefore, because my great-grandmother taught her sons, she wanted them to become teachers. My great-grandmother had a strong belief that my great-grandfather would come back home and they would have a happy family. However, he never did go back. They stayed in china and eventually when my grandfather was old enough, he married and had my father. My great-grandfather supported by sending money back home.

Due to this situation, my father worked hard because of the family. My father helped his parents to earn enough money to support the family when he was fifteen. My father was the second son of my grandparents, and he had four siblings. However, my father only finished middle school because he wanted his siblings have a chance to acquire more knowledge and find better jobs in the future. My father had to work hard to earn money because he didn’t have skill at his work. After he got married, he wanted to try to build a happy family and have a good livelihood for them. When I was one year and a half, and my father left home and came to the U.S. by himself.  He worked in Chicago for twelve hours a day and saved money to send money back home just like my great-grandfather did. My father always thought about his family because it was the most important thing in his mind.

Ten years later, my family finally got together in the United States. I had not seen my father for ten years. The first time I saw my father, I didn’t say “father”. I just said, “Hi”. As the time passed, I got to know more about my father, and eventually I called him father. Since my father had been in America, my life was easier because I did not worry about where I lived when I came here, and it was easier to connect with people who were here. In addition, I have a good education because I did not need to pay for any school fee in high school, and I plan to finish college in two years.  I know how to speak, read, and write in English. So when I find a job in the future it will be easier than for people who do not know the language. Eventually, my family’s hard work has allowed us to live comfortably in America.

            Consequently, my family’s American Dream was a success. My great-grandfather came to America as a laborer to earn money to support his family that was in China. Since my family got together in the U.S., we have had a better life. My father wants to have better living condition style for my generation. In addition, if the war had not happened, then my family would still be living in China. The war happened to change my whole life because I can come to the United States. Also, I acquired a lot of knowledge at school, and I have done many volunteer jobs here. In the future, if I want to have a part or full-time job, which will be easy for me because I have the skills for working in a daycare as an education major.