you will use a creative avenue to counter majoritarian stories (Solórzano & Yosso, 2002) of education. Evidence of critical thinking and reflecting on ones understanding of their identit

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Hana Nguyen

Department of Child and Adolescent Studies

California State University, Fullerton

CHIC 325 Chicana and Chicano Education

Judith C. Pérez, Ph.D.

October 10, 2022

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PERSONALIZED EDUCATIONAL NARRATIVE

Every day, we are taught new things. Invisible and untouchable, it cannot be perceived by

the senses. The impact of education extends far beyond the classroom and into every facet of

human existence. I am a student from Asia (Vietnam). There seems to be a big gap between how

various cultures conceptualize schooling. Looking back at my academic journey, I can see that

there were many points where I doubted the point of school. The way I felt about school was

shaped by my instructors, my family background, and my environment. To be sure, I come from

a culture with a lot of social inequality and a biased educational system. Being Vietnamese was

never something I was proud of throughout my schooling in the US. Peers and the community

alike instilled in me the belief that I should not celebrate my unique identity.

As early as I recall, I was the target of assumptions about my worth based on factors like

my race, ethnicity, and appearance. Raised in a group where everyone, except you, appeared to

have their priorities straight. The stereotype holds that many Asians will follow in their parent's

footsteps by excelling in the hard sciences. The trouble was that I could not connect to the

conventional family dynamic because neither of my parents went to college for a scientific or

medical career. Both parents had just completed high school when they made their daring escape

from their country. I never had anybody to look up to or relate to when I was growing up.

On the other hand, I did not join in any of such activities, I behaved simply like any other

youngster in my area without paying a thought to my surroundings. My close Asian-American

relatives grew up in the same area as me. They exemplified the model Asian-American kid,

succeeding in all they tried in school and extracurricular activities. However, did I truly have the

finest role models in them? My cousin and I come from quite different backgrounds, mostly

because our parents are very different. In contrast to my other aunts, uncles, and cousins, whom

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all seem to have master's degrees and well-organized lives, my parents were impoverished,

illiterate, and muddled. The fact that my parents did not achieve these or those goals is not

anything I hold against them.

I had no choice but to push through the obstacles and put in long hours. I altered the

standard view of education as consisting only of formal schooling. The importance of education

to modern society has now dawned on me. Problem-solving, analytical reasoning, civic duty,

teamwork, and social skills are all important aspects of development that should be emphasized

in the classroom alongside subject matter expertise. Once class begins, my outlook and

understanding may shift for the better.

While I first believed that succeeding academically would be challenging, I have now

learned that anybody can attain academic success with time and work. If I ever struggled with a

particular topic, someone was there to provide a hand; for that, I am grateful. Every student has

to deal with difficulties, but they should never forget to be thankful. As a result, if I upset

anybody in the class, they have my sincere apologies. Because certain facts might be deceiving, I

should also express my appreciation to my teachers for providing me with the correct

information.