Love is Sacrifice

      Every day after school, my mom hurriedly ran those same steps to that rusty back door with an apron hanging on her neck. She punched the time card from the wall and emerged into the massive restaurant. Sweeping the floor, setting up the table, organizing the furniture, my mom quickly started to work. Five hours later, after the restaurant closed, my dad went to pick up my exhausted mom to finally go home. This was just one typical day when my parents first immigrated to the United States. Seeking their American dream to get better education and religious freedom, my parents immigrated to the United Sates in 1997. Even though they had a flourishing life in China, they wanted the best for themselves and their family.

My parents had heard such wonderful stories about America. But life in America was not always enjoyable in the beginning. They had to overcome lots of difficulties. To begin with, they could hardly speak English. Furthermore, they had no money savings to their name. They were starting off from scratch. So that, they began as waiters at local restaurants, clerks in fast food stores, baby sisters for the neighbors, and teacher assistants in schools. Here they were, educated and talented, yet working these bluecollar jobs in the hopes that one day their children wouldn’t have to.

After a decade, their hard work and studying finally paid off. They graduated from college, found a job, and settled in the Bay Area. Although my parents couldn’t give us much in terms of material things, they gave us so much more. In America, we are able to attend church and have religious freedom. My mom always teaches me to find happiness by serving others. Church has given me valuable friends and experiences that I will always cherish.

My sister, brother, and I have a deep appreciation and understanding of my parent’s hard work and sacrifice. The chance they took to go to a religion freedom country so that they could get their children one step closer to a better life than they had known for themselves. To sacrifice their own dreams and ambitions so that we could see ours come true. Mere words cannot say thank you enough.