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Yanayvette Rivera English 21 Cordova 12 October, 2017

Growing up in a typical educational system, students become closely acquainted with other people in their age group during classes or breaks. Often times, a student begins their learning experience worried that they may fall under false judgement and become misunderstood. Thus, one may come to find themselves delighted when they make friends after spending enough time in this environment. However, if a student holds a obvious distinction compared to their peers and advisors, an uneasy feeling may overcome them as they wonder why they are even there. This effect proves to be particularly worse when an individual abruptly transfers to an entirely different educational atmosphere after becoming comfortable with their new made friends. In the novel Girl In Translation, author Jean Kwok uses the main character, Kimberly to depict this exact situation. As someone who is accustomed to an entirely different language and culture, Kimberly must endure a difficult situation in which she is forced to adapt to an area that is not initially welcoming. When one does not speak the native language of the area they live in, a clear disconnect is made between them and society. When Kimberly was eleven years old, she and her mother emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States in hope for better opportunities. However, the environment they relocated in did not accommodate to any

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of their needs. In fact, Kimberly’s teacher cut her no slack, although he realized she was not proficient in the English language. A good example of unfair treatment occurred when the teacher believed that Kimberly was cheating on her test. She tried to defend herself by saying, “I sorry, sir” but was quickly cut off by the teacher’s correction of, “ I’mmm” to emphasize the lack of proper pronunciation ( 27). This event lead to her skipping school for a substantial amount of time because her interaction with her advisor upset her enough that she no longer felt comfortable there. In addition to this, Kimberly felt that her mother was unable to defend her because as she “pictured Ma talking to Mr. Bogart with the few English words she knew[, i]t would only make him despise me more” ( 37). When putting this experience into perspective, it becomes easier to understand the effect it has on foreign students when their personal needs are overlooked. In other words, if an individual is compelled to feel bad about of their personal background rather than receiving the help they need, they may get discouraged to approach certain situations. In some cases, insecurities can be the result of a physical difference between one person and another. Almost instantly, Kimberly’s attitude towards a school she genuinely enjoyed changed when she began comparing herself to the other students who attended there. When offered the opportunity to attend this college prep school, Kimberly hesitated to accept the offer with the reason that “‘Maybe I am too different’” (pg. 108). This feeling intensified when fellow classmates started teasing her about the underwear her mom made for her due to their tight budget. It was not in Kimberly’s character to insist for her mom to buy her clothing since she understood her mom’s wages were delegated solely to rent and the repayment of a debt. However, she felt as if it was necessary to

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make this purchase because by continuing to wear the panties meant she was quietly consenting to being made fun of. The judgement of her peers lead Kimberly to act in ways that she normally would not have if she did not care of their opinions. For example, her mother had to pay an extra bill to get a house phone so Kimberly’s friends would not catch onto her financial standpoint. This mindset to conform to the implied social standing made things harder on Kimberly’s mother financially. Each experience that Kimberly had to endure only helped motivate her for a better future. The most evident within the book was the inhumane circumstances that her and her mother were forced to undergo. It wasn’t until her mom apologized for bringing her to New York that she realized her main purpose in life. This epiphany determined Kimberly to learn proper English and to excel in school in order to secure a better future for her family. As her aunt exploited them, Kimberly recognized that the living conditions were unacceptable and the work at the sweatshop was illegal. Therefore, these circumstances encouraged Kimberly to go back to school despite the insensitivity shown by her sixth grade teacher. Kimberly declares her realization that she “had to go back to school on Monday” because her “Pa was dead and no one else could save Ma from this life” ( 50). In order to accomplish this, Kimberly remained focused as she worked late hours and still managed to muster up enough energy to study. Her choices can be perceived as admirable because not many people at the such a young age dream to do something so significant with their life and actually go through with it. Furthermore, by applying the knowledge she gained from past experience, Kimberly did not allow people to benefit from her mom’s inability to speak English. When she noticed that someone was trying to take advantage of her mother’s reluctance to confrontation, she made sure

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to stand up for her. Through her actions, Kimberly proved that anyone can overcome any circumstance no matter how overwhelming. Naturally, her story has the ability to encourage the intended audience to conquer their social challenges despite any obstacle. Jean Kwok’s novel, Girl In Translation, tells of an inspirational story about a young lady that raises her and her mom out of a unhealthy environment. Despite her and her mom’s inability to communicate in the local tongue, Kimberly was able to overcome the underestimation from family and peers working against her, both internally and externally, to deliver her to a successful future. Within this process, she was able to make close friends, find the beauty in life and most importantly, the gift she held. Through the endurance displayed during the most difficult time of Kimberly’s life, she was able to receive each of her beautiful blessings.

Work Cited Kwok, Jean. Girl In Translation. Penguin Group. 2010. New York, NY