To My Bullies... by Jessica

To My Bullies... by Jessica - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, it was difficult for my teachers and classmates to understand me due to my Vietnamese accent and my inability to speak English fluently. This resulted in me being bullied and ridiculed at school for several years. This experience was traumatic, and as I reflect back, serves as a constant inspiration for me to ensure the people I work with always feel welcomed, supported, and heard.

Given my experience of feeling misunderstood, I dedicated time to get better in English by reading books, joining clubs, and writing essays. As I got older and perfected my English, I decided to learn more languages, specifically Spanish, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language. I practice these languages daily and I take weekly courses to further enhance my fluency and knowledge in them. I wanted to ensure myself that I will never be made fun of again so I believe that my skill is my perseverance. Getting bullied in my early childhood years has motivated me to continue to rise up to any barriers and obstacles that I face. I continued to work hard and now I can proudly say I can communicate effectively without any judgment.

With my perseverance, I became a multilingual speaker and now I can collaborate effectively with people from various backgrounds, their parents, and other health care providers (e.g., physicians, doctors, occupational therapists) to provide appropriate session materials and activities. For example, when I worked with individuals with autism and Down syndrome as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA), most of my supervisors were monolingual in English. I witnessed how difficult sessions were for the clients and their families since they could not speak or understand English. I remember being in the same boat as them, however, with my expertise in Vietnamese and basic knowledge of Spanish, I was able to translate my client’s and the parent’s needs to my supervisors. This experience has taught me that hard work pays off and the importance of creating a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults of various backgrounds.