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I was fifteen when I came to this country. I didn't speak English. I eventually graduated from high school but since at the time, Chinese was not taught in sc

I was fifteen when I came to this country. I didn't speak English. I eventually graduated from high school but since at the time, Chinese was not taught in school, it was not considered a foreign language and therefore could not be used to satisfy the language requirement for getting into University. Instead, I applied to the local city college and spend the first semester taking high school math, physics and chemistry. Then after two more years, my English improved well enough that I was able to transfer to a four-year school, majoring in engineering. I also worked part-time in a laundry at minimum wage to save enough money so that I can move away from home to finish my degree. After my bachelor degree, I worked summer before returning to graduate school. Then after my master, I worked a few years before returning to get my Ph.D. Then I worked again and after a few years, took a teaching job at UCLA. When I was forty years old, I left the comfort of academia to start my first company. I just took life one step at a time and every step of the way, I didn't ask for any favor, except for a chance to prove myself. Now after two companies, I am retired. You can do anything you want in this country, even if you weren't born in this country and didn't even speak the language. Just don't take no for an answer and always accept responsibility for your own failure.

juliusmcfly 17y ago
Thanks for the reply. Really what I need to hear. I am always impressed with people who come here, adjust to the culture, work hard, and have such great success. Really inspiring.
tjic 17y ago
> You can do anything you want in this country, even if you weren't born in this country and didn't even speak the language. Just don't take no for an answer and always accept responsibility for your own failure. Hot damn, I love the American dream, and I love hard working immigrants who show the rest of us, when we get lazy or self-pitying, how it's done. Dennykmiu, it's great to have you here in the US. You're an inspiration. Thanks for being here, and thanks for posting! Hoo-ah!
dejb 17y ago
> You can do anything you want in this country, even if you weren't born in this country and didn't even speak the language. Just don't take no for an answer and always accept responsibility for your own failure. It is great that you have succeeded and that people with your background can succeed in the US. However I think it's likely you are blessed with some characteristics that others don't have such as - High intelligence - High motivation - The capacity to master another language - Reasonable mental and physical health - Some degree of luck (or at least not too much bad luck) When giving advice for others you should keep in mind that they may not have the same capabilities that you do (I'm not talking about juliusmcfly). The flip side if your attitude is that everyone who isn't successful is substantiatlly to blame for there situation.
- dennykmiu 17y ago
  @dejb, I was not being condescending and if my comment came across as such, I apologize deeply. I was merely saying that life is short and it is important not to take no for an answer. This is true if you are an immigrant or not. I just happen to be one.
  - dejb 17y ago
    Actually I saw your comments a being the exact opposite of condescending. You aren't speaking from an 'assumed position of superiority' you are actually speaking as if everyone has your capabilities. I'm just putting forward the theory that you are actually better than average in many respects. Maybe assuming everyone can do what you can isn't accurate. > I was merely saying that life is short and it is important not to take no for an answer. This is true if you are an immigrant or not. I still agree with your general attitude. Regardless of anyone's abilities an attitude like this is likely to get the best results.
- juliusmcfly 17y ago
  This is true as well. The argument isn't so pretty when you take it to its logical extremes. It is true, however, that someone with all of those aforementioned traits and opportunities has no excuse. I think people that consistently try hard enough will eventually be blessed with some degree of luck.
Confusion 17y ago
You can do anything you want in this country In light of the other comments, I would like to add: not just in the US. You can do that in any civilised country.
- gaius 17y ago
  The US, UK, Canada etc, yes - countries with long traditions of immigrants both assimilating and contributing to their culture. It's an order of magnitude more difficult in a country without that tradition. Most places in the world, immigrants with no ties to the country are an economic and social underclass, with just the occasional success. Try being Moroccan in France or Turkish in Germany. There're very few places where there's even close to a level playing field.
  - Confusion 17y ago
    Try being an African American in the US? There's always history and other contingent circumstances to consider. In that light it is unfair to compare a Chinese immigrant in the US with a Moroccan immigrant in France. At least compare them to a Chinese immigrant in France. BTW, I think Turks in Germany are actually doing very well.
    - tjic 17y ago
      > Try being an African American in the US Yeah, you might end up as president.
      - Confusion 17y ago
        Yeah, in gaius' words 'you might have occasional successes'. African Americans are as much 'an economic and social underclass' in the US as Moroccans are in France.
        billm 17y ago
        There's always a STUPID comment made on every site, any given moment and at any given second of the day.. The prize goes to... "Confusion"... the name says it all..
visitor4rmindia 17y ago
It's stories like this that sometimes make me wish I had moved to the US. The American Dream is truly a wonderful concept.

juliusmcfly 17y ago

Thanks for the reply. Really what I need to hear. I am always impressed with people who come here, adjust to the culture, work hard, and have such great success. Really inspiring.

tjic 17y ago

> You can do anything you want in this country, even if you weren't born in this country and didn't even speak the language. Just don't take no for an answer and always accept responsibility for your own failure. Hot damn, I love the American dream, and I love hard working immigrants who show the rest of us, when we get lazy or self-pitying, how it's done. Dennykmiu, it's great to have you here in the US. You're an inspiration. Thanks for being here, and thanks for posting! Hoo-ah!

dejb 17y ago

> You can do anything you want in this country, even if you weren't born in this country and didn't even speak the language. Just don't take no for an answer and always accept responsibility for your own failure. It is great that you have succeeded and that people with your background can succeed in the US. However I think it's likely you are blessed with some characteristics that others don't have such as - High intelligence - High motivation - The capacity to master another language - Reasonable mental and physical health - Some degree of luck (or at least not too much bad luck) When giving advice for others you should keep in mind that they may not have the same capabilities that you do (I'm not talking about juliusmcfly). The flip side if your attitude is that everyone who isn't successful is substantiatlly to blame for there situation.

dennykmiu 17y ago
@dejb, I was not being condescending and if my comment came across as such, I apologize deeply. I was merely saying that life is short and it is important not to take no for an answer. This is true if you are an immigrant or not. I just happen to be one.
- dejb 17y ago
  Actually I saw your comments a being the exact opposite of condescending. You aren't speaking from an 'assumed position of superiority' you are actually speaking as if everyone has your capabilities. I'm just putting forward the theory that you are actually better than average in many respects. Maybe assuming everyone can do what you can isn't accurate. > I was merely saying that life is short and it is important not to take no for an answer. This is true if you are an immigrant or not. I still agree with your general attitude. Regardless of anyone's abilities an attitude like this is likely to get the best results.
juliusmcfly 17y ago
This is true as well. The argument isn't so pretty when you take it to its logical extremes. It is true, however, that someone with all of those aforementioned traits and opportunities has no excuse. I think people that consistently try hard enough will eventually be blessed with some degree of luck.

Confusion 17y ago

You can do anything you want in this country In light of the other comments, I would like to add: not just in the US. You can do that in any civilised country.

gaius 17y ago
The US, UK, Canada etc, yes - countries with long traditions of immigrants both assimilating and contributing to their culture. It's an order of magnitude more difficult in a country without that tradition. Most places in the world, immigrants with no ties to the country are an economic and social underclass, with just the occasional success. Try being Moroccan in France or Turkish in Germany. There're very few places where there's even close to a level playing field.
- Confusion 17y ago
  Try being an African American in the US? There's always history and other contingent circumstances to consider. In that light it is unfair to compare a Chinese immigrant in the US with a Moroccan immigrant in France. At least compare them to a Chinese immigrant in France. BTW, I think Turks in Germany are actually doing very well.
  - tjic 17y ago
    > Try being an African American in the US Yeah, you might end up as president.
    - Confusion 17y ago
      Yeah, in gaius' words 'you might have occasional successes'. African Americans are as much 'an economic and social underclass' in the US as Moroccans are in France.
      - billm 17y ago
        There's always a STUPID comment made on every site, any given moment and at any given second of the day.. The prize goes to... "Confusion"... the name says it all..

visitor4rmindia 17y ago

It's stories like this that sometimes make me wish I had moved to the US. The American Dream is truly a wonderful concept.