Andrew Tran's new life

By Kenny Nguyen

In the blazing, humid heat, people are walking around, enjoying their shopping life or playdates, and watching motorcycles pass by through the streets.

Andrew Tran had spent most of his childhood in Vietnam, enjoying his life in the city side. His life changed when he was 11, his family decided to go to America. So, he packed up and left everything behind: cousins, friends, and hometown, and regretted leaving without making the most of his time there.

Tran: “I miss my cousins and the atmosphere. I could’ve spent more time with my friends, but I’m a shy person. So, I really don’t talk to them anymore.”

After moving to America, he noticed the changes in the weather. While it was humid and hot in Vietnam, the weather in the US was cooler and nicer. Being in the new environment, it caused him to dislike the changes and challenges.

Tran: “I hate changes. When I moved to America, it was hard for me to adapt because I didn’t speak the language.”

During his months in America, he couldn’t go to school because he wasn’t vaccinated at that time. Since he couldn’t go to school, he mostly stayed at his uncle’s place, and he wasn’t used to the atmosphere, as it was his first time being in his uncle’s place. During his stay at his uncle’s house, he was given a book to start his education.

Tran: “For the first six months, I spent those six months learning English, self-taught, from an English book.”

While being an only child, he felt uncomfortable being alone at his uncle’s house, but his uncle’s cousins helped him get through his first time coming to America, and enjoyed the time being with them.

A few years after his stay in America, he was starting to get comfortable with his life until COVID-19 hit. He had a drop in motivation, causing him to stop focusing on his classes and academics; thus, he missed out most of his high school life. Furthermore, his parents had academic expectations and compared him..

Tran: “They expected me to do good in school and not do drugs… They’d constantly compare me to my uncle’s children.”

With the help and support of his friends, he managed to slowly regain his motivation and get through the end of the school, passing his classes. In the end, through his endurance, he had made it through these years, alone. So, any expectations or scolding will never get to him.

Tran: “No.”

Andrew Tran, now 16, still lives the same lifestyle since the beginning, but found a place to call home.

For the Warrior times, I am Kenny Nguyen.