My name is Oanh Tran Shields and I was born on July 25th, 1990. I lived in Vung Tau city, which has a beautiful beach in the south of Viet Nam. I’m the oldest sister of four, with one younger sister and two younger brothers. In Viet Nam, for some reason, many of the people I know, such as friends and neighbors, used to call me “Princess. ” That nickname followed me from when I was a little girl until the day that I flew to America. People called me that, but I know that I’m not a princess at all. There are quite a few things that people don’t know about me.
For the most part, people think I’m dependent on others, but I’d say I’m more independent than most people think. I was born into a family which takes care of their children very much. My parents brought me to school every morning and brought me home in the afternoon every single day from the day I started going to school until I graduated high school. In contrast, most of my friends learned how to get to school by themselves around eighth grade, and nearly all of my friends drove to school by themselves or with other friends when we were in high school.
I wasn’t driving to school because my parents did not allow me to drive to and from school. Since the streets near the school had lots of trucks passing by. In high school, while my classmates were hanging out with each other, I had to stay at home after school. Whenever I had an invitation to a birthday party from my friends, my parents would bring me to the party and pick me up when the party was over. Everybody thought that I was a girl who was very reliant on my parents.
However, I listen to my parents not because I’m weak or dependent, but just because I appreciate what they have done for me. I follow what they ask of me to make them feel more secure instead of rejecting them. Their caring didn’t hold me back as I knew how to prepare my meals, my clothes, and my future. When I went to Ho Chi Minh City, where is far from my hometown (about 73 kilometers), for studies, I lived in a dormitory with new friends. I knew how to take care of myself and how to avoid getting sick. I caught the bus to come home every month by myself and went to extra classes every day.
More importantly, If I was a dependent girl, I wouldn’t know how to finish my documents to come to America without anyone as a sponsor, which is one of the most complicated things for young people at my age when they want to come to any overseas country. I’m an ambitious girl, who has various hobbies. Sometimes, I don’t know what I should focus on because I’m interested in many different things in the world. First, I wanted to be a photographer, because I love taking pictures. When I got older, around 15 years old or so, I wanted to become a singer. I was enjoying singing and touching on different kind of music a lot.
Moreover, I also liked doing something that concentrated on art, such as drawing, designing, or making handmade cards. Furthermore, I love working on cosmetics and different things to do with it, as I take pleasure in doing people’s hair and make-up. In the end, I realize that these favorite things which I enjoy doing are my hobbies, and not so much my career. Studying towards and doing business is my career, since I understood clearly about what my strongest field is and what I am fascinated with. I realize that I’m friendly to everybody, but I’m little bit picky in choosing my friends, especially close friends.
I like making new friends, but I’m not interested in chatting around for a few hours like many girls my age love to do. It’s rare to find me standing in one group with a few girls who are gossiping about people. I don’t like being talkative. For me, time is very important and I don’t want to waste it on chatting or gossip. However, I enjoy shopping and chatting with friends when I have actually finished my work. If not, I will feel guilty about myself. I would like to be close to a friend with who cares about their future and being mature. One more thing that people rarely know about me is I am a strict person sometimes.
Even though I am a young girl, my mind requires more than what a young girl wants. I can be easy and be a young girl when I deal with something that is trivial or unimportant. However, dealing with something that is serious and significant, you will see me like an old girl; I am not fun and easy-going anymore. My biggest goal is becoming a successful woman, so I can help as many as needy people as I can. Every time I give someone something, I feel so happy and joyful. My heart hurts whenever I see people going hungry, being frosty and being sick without food, clothes and medicine.
Orphanage kids can make me cry easily without hitting me. At that moment, I wish I could have a lot of money to build a house for those kids, buy their clothes, and give them an education. I hope I can do it one day in the near future. Now you know that I am an independent girl, not a “princess,” as someone said. Not only I am independent, but also I am ambitious. Sometimes I am easy-going, sometimes I am strict. Being easy to cry is not for the type of girl, who seems strong, self-reliant and strict, but that is how I am. Those features make me a complicated girl.
