“This land is your land, this land is my land From California to the New York island.”
I dream of a world where people can live up to their dreams.
The United States is one of the most multicultural places on earth, and it is the most multicultural place I have lived in. I was born in China and then moved to Hong Kong for 6 years before moving again to the US at age 13. Throughout my journey, I met other immigrants like myself. Each and every one of them carries a significant, unheard story. Many were determined to come to the US at all cost to pursue “the American dream”, some even risking their lives for this land of opportunities. I wish everyone can have an equal opportunity no matter where they are, not only in America. I imagine a diverse world where natural disparity does not hinder one’s road to success. The series of relocation has also taught me the beauty of embracing differences. The world is like a giant ice cream. The more toppings, the merrier. It saddens me to see disadvantaged individuals failing to receive the assistance they need because they cannot afford it. There is a large disparity in healthcare, for example. Some patients refused necessary treatments due to the skyrocketed price of medical bills. My grandma passed away because my family who lived in rural China at the time could not afford to call an ambulance for her. The issue of inequality is complex, like all the problems yet to be solved. I plan to major in biomedical engineering and economics as a starting point in order to decrease disparities by providing necessary access to underserved areas.
As a high school senior, I am excited to graduate with the class of 2020 and step foot into the unknown world. With a list of world disasters ranging from COVID-19 to civil unrest, we are calling for action, now louder than ever. I believe that the youth have the power to make a difference. How do we achieve that? It requires active learning to be aware of the unconscious bias that drives discrimination. It requires sympathy towards those that are different from us. It requires us to be educated.
I dream, every day, of a world where people are not hindered by what they are born into.
United States 