FLIP-FLOP

Failures
Transform
An ugly duck
Into
An exquisite
Artist

KNOWLEDGE by Anhthao Bui

I can lose everything, but I never lose the passion of reading and writing, which are parts of learning process. Reading is input and writing is output. I am always greedy of knowledge and often seeking the food of knowledge. After eating knowledge, I might digest and make it useful. Knowledge brings me a secure job, so I do not need to worry about my finance. Knowledge helps me understand people and the world surrounding me. Knowledge makes me become a humble person and a better citizen. In other words, knowledge teaches me dignity, loyalty, and independence. Knowledge opens my eyes toward the New World, where I truly live in peace and happiness because in the world of knowledge, there is no vice.

I admire my professors’ knowledge and wish to absorb their knowledge and to become wise. I believe that my professors understand me as well although I am a minority. I think they know me better than my family and my people. In the knowledge land, there is no boundary of race or ethnicity. In knowledge, we have a common voice of seeking wisdom. My professors, the predecessors, identify the fever of seeking knowledge and are willing to guide those who look for knowledge. Since knowledge is a long- term process, to taste the honey of knowledge, the knowledge seekers need to equip themselves with discipline, perseverance, and resilience to pursue an unfinished journey, and they may overcome the ocean of hardships.

I do not know if I have enough energy and patience to hunt knowledge or not? I am almost forty; my brain and mind are relaxed, so it is difficult to receive new information. Moreover, my physical body is too fragile to bear the life’s disaster. To Vietnamese people, a woman in her of forties is too old to pursue education, and she should give up school in order to take care of her family. My friends and relatives often questioned me that I study for what? They advised me to give up my educational path to enjoy life because I was no longer young to compete with younger learners. More than ten years living in the United States, I have spent most of my time in school and only received failure and losses. I was exhausted and upset because my effort and endeavor were huge, but I got a little result. However, the torch of searching knowledge always flames in my heart.

The United States is the paradise of opportunity and education. The United States provides free education for everyone, no matter who he or she is. So that was why in the reeducation- camp, my father kept improving English whenever he had a chance in the hope that he would go to the United States to continue his education. Moreover, under the communist control, my creative writing was blocked. I experienced the prevention of learning, so I treasured the United States’ equal education. I grasp knowledge as a blessing, which the United States and its people give me.

Knowledge is huge and diverse. I need to determine my purpose in order not to get lost in the knowledge labyrinth. I like history and favor politics. I think I will enter the law field to be a judge or to run politics, but I know my nature is an artist, and I cannot be a good politician. I do not want to harm anyone else, and I cannot stand another criticism because I am vulnerable. I determine to follow my heart: keep walking on the English Literature Path, which leads me to mysterious and excited dimensions and satisfies my curious mind.
February 23, 2007

Fish Sauce by Anhthao Bui

Fish sauce is my spirit. Without fish sauce, I cannot survive.