A story of encouragement (Since most of us seem to fight too much in here, esp. about relationships)

I feel like there is somewhat of a crisis in the Mien community. A lot of my Mien friends and relatives have become wanna-be gangsters and seem to be going down the wrong path in life. I see a lot of the same stuff here in the Bay Area and also in Sacramento. I could care less if you are just staying home and not doing anything, but I really do not want it to get to the point where Mien people are commiting violent crimes and killing each other like a certain group of people in this country right now. I am not a perfect person and I do not really think I should be preaching or telling people what to do, however I feel like need to express my feelings now after seeing so many of my Mien friends and relatives lose hope in life and get bitter at thier parents for numerous reasons. I know that we are new to this country and most of us are poor. However, having a tough life and being poor is not an excuse to throw your life away and resort to doing bad things that isn't good for society. I do not want it to come down to "being poor" as an excuse or reason to why people become idiotic enough to not care about their own lives and in so do hamrful things to others. Blaming poverty for not being able to do what you like is a lame excuse.

There are people in third world countries and war torn societies dying and walking with empty stomachs and carrying deadly diseases and still are able to walk with a huge determination to survive and look for food. We should be glad that we are in a place that is filled with opportunities to chase our goals. I think the most important thing in life is to do something that you love or if you can't decide on what to do just keep an open mind and explore the opportunities out there. I also think it's important that parents make sure their kids do something that they love. We don't have to be doctors or "seem smart" and make tons of money to be successful and happy. I feel like a lot of people give up on life sometimes because they feel like they are not technically "smart enough" in school or unworthy and think since they won't make a lot of money they just resort to the norm of giving up and not doing anything. I am not the smartest person in life and I barely passed highschool. One of my college professors told me that success is 90% attitude and motivation and 10% brains, no matter what you do. I am going to become a Photographer. Not the most prestigous like a Doctor and doesn't make a lot of money. I do it because I love it. It's my passion and its that drive of doing it and wanting to become a professional Photographer is what kept me going throughout all my years. A lot of my colleuges have been dirt poor and are not doing great because they never gave up.

I feel like I can say all this because I am in the same position as most of my Mien friends and relatives who decided to throw away their lives and do harmful things. I am not a goody goody two shoes. I am not rich or middle class. I went through a lot of sh*t in life, just like anyone. I always have been poor and always lived in bad neighborhood plagued with violence, hatred, and negativity. I do not need to act like my environment around me and throw away my life. Most importantly, I do not need blame or use poverty as a reason for giving up or not being successful. I do not need to make a lot of money to be happy, because I will always get to do what I have a passion in, and that is priceless and will always provide me happiness. Again, I am not Mr. Right and I do not have all the answers but when I feel that when people are in great danger and are commiting the same mistakes, I can't just let them keep making them. I am too repulsed and tired of seeing Mien, especially youth's throw away their lives and them accusing me of being weird and white-washed and being the only Mien in an educational institution even when the area has a adequate Mien population. Here is a story which I think we can all learn from:

THE DONKEY

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.