“Who am I?” is a frequently asked question of many young people today. Each of them is eager for finding who they are supposed to be, but leaves behind what have influenced their lives. In truth, if we take a look at these influences, it can be a good opportunity to find out the real “us”. In every person’s life, he/she has met a variety of kinds of people and has dealt with problems at all degree, from the most serious to the least annoying ones. However, not all of those can have an influence on his/her life. I myself become a person like who I am now because of dramatic impacts from particular people around me and events in which I got involved.
My Parents’ Strength and Courage beyond Anyone I Know Perhaps the most important influence that has shaped my life is my upbringing in a traditional family combined from Northern customs (my father’s side) and Southern customs (my mother’s side). My father comes from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where there are full of traditions and strict rules (particularly in my father’s family). Actually, Hanoi has just celebrated the 1000-year-old Ceremony, which means that some of these traditions have lasted for 1000 years. Consequently, the durable survival of the custom has a very strong impact on the Northerners’ lifestyle. My father is not an exception. Specifically, he is a typical example of diligence and rigorousness. When I was a little girl, doing homework and reading books before class used to be a precedent at home. In addition to my study, there were also some criteria on other things such as wearing formal apparel whenever going out, going home before 9PM and so on. Up to now, this kind of lifestyle has been in my blood, of course along with small changes. One more special thing about the Northerners is their ceremonious behaviors to everybody, especially the person they meet for the first time. A few of my friends, who are clever enough, also have an