Quyn Tran

I left Vietnam in the middle of 9th grade, and finished High School here in the USA.  I knew that I like Nursing but at the same time, I was very apprehensive about the thought of going to college because of all the things I've heard from others. “It's nothing like High School.  You have to work 2 to 3 times harder but you still can’t get a good grade.  If English is your second language, it will take forever to finish college, etc..." 

I didn't want to go to college at all, but my father had a plan for me and my three brothers the very first day that we stepped on this land,insisting that we all have to at least have a four-year-degree.  My Dad doesn't want to see any of us bury our lives in the factories or fast-food restaurants when there are plenty of opportunities out there that weren't available to us when we were back home in Vietnam.   

To my surprise, I felt in love with Highline. I didn't feel bad at all when I got lost on my first week of school because I felt as if I was always surrounded by flowers and trees. 

I was also thankful that here was also a Vietnamese Student Association, a place that I could exhale, refreshed my memories about my own culture, and also remember that a major part of me was still a Vietnamese.

In my second quarter, I wanted to take Introduction to Psychology, but then I was bombarded with all the negative comments about that class.  People recommended me taking psychology in my last quarter, when I’m more familiar with the college atmosphere.  As stubborn as ever, I took that course regardless what other people said.    It was a challenging class.  However, after my first test came back, I could not believe in my eyes when I saw a big word “outstanding” written on it. 

After that point I started to believe more in myself and knew that I could do anything I want to, as long as I put my mind into it.  Now that I am taking courses that are much harder in University, that very first Psychology test reminds me to be strong and believe in myself whenever I feel discouraged by things that I hear from others.