Personal Narrative: Adapting To America

“Mom, I want to go home, I cannot live in this place anymore, I miss my school, my friends, I miss everything in Vietnam. Please let me get back.” I used to say that in tears to my mother at the first days I lived in the United States. Living in this country was my dream when I was a little girl. However, I never thought about the difficulties waiting for me in the United States. It’s been almost two years since I first arrived America, adapting to its cultures. Through many difficulties, I learn we have to embrace opportunities and deal with challenges to grew up.
In the first year of college, I had to face many new things. I felt nervous and a little excited. I thought, “ it’s my first semester of college in America, try being open-minded.” I imagined many bad and good situations, and how to deal with them because I thought it would relieve my perturbation, but it was not. I was getting more afraid and more nervous. I kept struggling with those thoughts for a whole first semester. Walking through the class’s door, with people speaking a new language, I saw people greeting, talking, having fun… They looked excited and happy. In opposition, I sat alone in the
I started to step out from my lonely shell, met new people, talked to them and made friends. It turned out more fun than living in my isolation world and missing my old life which I created myself. Studying in Manchester Community College, especially Professor Townsend’s class, I have found out my love for Communication major. I have wanted to continue to further my study in Communication and been willing to take a next step in my life: going to four-year college. I have known that I will have to leave this life behind again for the new changes and opportunities. However, I have learned from my first moving experiences about dealing with some challenges and I will use those experiences for the next