Chicago Scholars is excited to bring you a series of essays and reflections on the impact of Scholars’ college degrees on their communities, their families, and themselves. This poem was written by Joey Liang, Class of 2o22.
A Scholar’s Echo
First in the family
to get a high school degree
and a college degree.
Valedictorian
in high school
and
Summa Cum Laude
in university.
Parents were immigrants,
didn’t know any English.
Worked all week,
late into the night.
When they came home,
I was sleeping.
When I came home,
they were working.
I told them
I’ll get a good job and
take care of them.
They laughed.
An English degree?
That won’t make money, you see.
That’s what my mommy always told me.
Had a full ride to college
and a little bit of extra pocket money.
So don’t worry Mommy, you see
I love learning
and
I love English.
Pursuing your dreams
is the lesson I will teach;
And don’t worry,
I will make money from it too.
I give my parents allowance now.
They brag about it to their friends,
and they get jealous.
The pride and hope of the family;
a one-way ticket straight
out of generational poverty.
My family is proud of me,
my friends look up to me,
And my baby sister
(actually has to raise her head to look up at me).
I graduated!
She thinks I’m so smart.
She asks me for help
with solving angles for triangle arcs!
That is not my expertise.
I am a writer you see.
But I hold her pencil and paper
and we ask Google for help…
please.
My family and the community
asks me about
what to study in college,
and
if it was worth it.
I tell them:
Education
allowed me
to explore
and find myself;
My dreams,
my hopes,
my aspirations,
and my purpose.
The opportunities
I received
and the connections
I made
are long-lasting
and meaningful.
Had no help
in pursuing higher education,
so I sought out every opportunity
and
Chicago Scholars
was one of the many.
The lessons I’ve learned
still resonate with me today and
because of their impact on my life,
I want to give back my strongest skill –
writing.
I edit cover letters,
resumes,
job applications, and
got students into grad school
and new jobs.
I give advice,
study tips, and
time management tricks.
Giving pep talks
and encouragement
all make me feel warm.
Right now,
working hard at my alma mater
by helping students apply to college
and putting extra hours
for Chicago Scholars;
We are creating a product for students –
the IRL Game of Life.
A journey of giving
and REACH(ing)
back out
to the community
and
helping low-income
under-resourced students
like me
with my degree.
…..
Mommy is on the phone
with a friend:
They ask her,
“Didn’t your daughter graduate?”
Mommy says yes.
They ask,
“What did she study?”
Mommy smiles,
“English!”
