Student Autobiographies

Students spent a lot of work writing their autobiographies. At first they were stunned when I announced they would write four paragraphs, but they stuck with it over the course of three weeks to complete multiple drafts with peer editing. In the final stages we discussed the concept of "Audience" and they created new and catchy titles, hooks, as well as topic sentences for paragraphs about their childhood, present life, and future goals. I'm inspired by all of their amazing stories.

As Time Goes By, by Suzhen Gong

I came into this world for no reason at all. I was born in Burma in 1928. I have one elder brother and one younger brother .I was the middle born. In1940 my parents sent my big brother and me to Hong Kong, because Hong Kong’s middle school education is better than Burma. I lived in Hong Kong for about one a half years. World War II broke out. We didn’t have school any more. My brother and I followed my uncle’s family back to our country China in 1942. Then I lived in China for fifty years.

Here is a tick-tack of my life. I graduated from college in 1953 in China. After I graduated from college I got a job teaching Chinese in a high school in 1953. I got married in 1956. My husband was my schoolmate. Two years later. In 1958 my first daughter was born. She was not strong and always got sick. And the next year my son was born. It made troubles for me. I could not get to class on time. So I quit the job and got another job in an office. I worked in this office for about 15 years. In 1973 one of my friends and also my former schoolmate worked in a magazine society. She wanted me to help her. So from 1973 to 1988, I worked for this magazine society until I retired.

Beginning of ‘’zero’’. In 2001 I came over to America. At the beginning I did not feel well in living here because I did not understand English wherever I went I needed to speak English , so I went to John Adams campus from the beginning of level 1. But unfortunately I got high blood pressure in 2006. I had to stop studying English for three years. This semester my blood pressure is getting lower, so I decided to continue my English studies.

I dream my wishes will come true. Our teacher ---Denise always told us ‘’something is better than nothing.’’ This is very realistic and it encourages me there is nothing to be afraid of. If I stay at home and do nothing. My mind will go empty. I will not communicate with people. I will not understand America’s cultures and customs. I will not understand English languages. Although I can use gestures, the gestures in Chinese are not all the same in America. It will have different meaning. So I am going to make a plan. My goal is in the next two or three years. I will continue to study English in City College till I can speak, listen and write in English. My plans will be including to read some story book every day for 2 paragraphs and to write some sentence. Of course I will not know if my sentences are correct or not. But I will keep it out and review it again. I thing I will find many mistakes in it, that proves I will have a little bit of progress in writing and I will feel very pleasant about it,

To be successful depend on oneself. But until now my listening, speaking, and reading are still no good. I know it is very hard for me, but I will keep going, I will not give up and I will try my best.

A Second Life, by Sai Kit Yu

Moving makes thing better. I was born in south China, Canton 1961. I grew up in a small town, Kai Pin, but I never forgot living there. When I graduated from high school, I moved to Hong Kong in 1978. That was my first time to leave my home town. I lived in Hong Kong for 10 years, In 1987 I got married. After 2 years I moved to the U. S.

That time when I moved was a very big change for me. Everything began to start, like my family in 1990. My family had good news. My son was born, and 5 years later my daughter was born. When my son was 18 years old he went to UC Berkeley, and now he is a second year student there. When I was 40 years old my life had a big change, but this time it was very bad news. My family doctor told me my kidney got worst, “you should go to dialysis” he said. When I heard that, I felt like the world just stopped and my life was coming to an end. May 24, 2005 was my lucky day. On this day, someone donated a kidney to me, I’m very thankful to my donor’s family and I really enjoy my life now.

I never forgot my home town Kai Pin. I grew up in south China in a small town. In my childhood, in China all people were very poor, I didn’t have anything to play with, and so I always went to the river to go swimming. When I was 6 years old I could swim in the river. I went swimming almost every day. I don’t forget that river because I played in this river for 13 years. I welcome everyone to go to my home town to go swimming.

San Francisco is good for everyone to live. I live in the Portola District on Yale ST. since I moved to San Francisco, I have moved three different times. I’m now living in the house I have moved in at 1999. I live with my wife, son and daughter. When I got a new kidney I stopped working. I take care of my family, I drive my daughter to school every day, and then I go to school every day too. I cook dinner for my family. San Francisco is good for everyone to live in, it has good weather, good education, and good transportation, but the housing is very expensive. When you are in Civic Center, it is very hard to find a parking space. I hope our government can fix this problem.

I hope my dreams will come true. I stopped working for few years, so I think my short-term goal is to hurry and find a job. Before, I was a machinist, my position was Mill and Lathe set up, so I hope I will be able to find this some job. Before, my main goal was to be UC student, but after learning for a few years, my English did not change. English is too hard for me, now I change my mind, I hope to find me a good job and earn more money. I’ll buy a big house for my family. When I got a new kidney I had a dream ( usually the kidney can be used for 17 years ) I hope my kidney will stay with me whole life, I hope my dream will come true. Buddha, God, help me, if you can do it, I’ll believe in you.

My Valuable Life, by YueYou Liu

I threw myself into a teaching career for most of my life. I was born in 1955 in China. I’m the middle child in my family. I went to school in 1962. I graduated from high school in 1972, and then l got a job teaching. I taught in a primary school in my home. I went into teacher training school five years later. I taught in the middle school after l finished teacher training school. then, l moved out of my hometown to a small city. I lived there for about twenty years. I quit my job in 2005. I have been in the United States since 2006. Now I live in Chinatown. I have learned English in an adult school since I came here. I hope I can speak English well soon.

I felt reluctant to leave my childhood. When l was young, l was happy. I was my parent’s good daughter. I was a good student. When l was in primary school, I had two best classmates. We were neighbors. We often went to school together, and played games. We often helped each other. We often fished in the river. Sometimes we climbed trees. We went up and down, caught and chased each other. At home l often helped my parents do chores. When my parents went to work, l took care of my youngest brother and washed dirty clothes with my hands. Whether it was winter or summer, l always did it. I had a happy childhood.

I began to live different life. Now I live in Chinatown. I’m a healthcare worker. I go to school and work every day. I’m really busy. In weekend sometimes l visit my brothers with my parents, and go out to restaurant and try different country food. Sometimes l goes for a trip with my friends. I can really myself see and appreciate the scenery of the United States. I really know the culture of America personally, not from a book or hearing. I can really travel the different country. But even though my life is interesting, I feel homesick a little.

Tomorrow will be better than today as long as you make great efforts. I have been in United States for three years, but I’m often upset. I have a great problem. I can’t speak English well. Learning English is really difficult for me, maybe because I’ m older. English in my mind is gone quickly. Now I have a good ambition. I must learn English well, even though it will take me a long time to speak English. I will never give it up. I make up in my mind to learn English well. I will try my best. I believe I will speak, read and write in English very well someday. I can get a job. I can earn much money. I will make my good life tomorrow.

Start to Navigate Again, by Kathy Qiong Li

Home is the harbor of the love. You can feel stable and happy from your home. Home means responsibility. I was born in GuangXi province of China on Dec.7, 1975. I have an elder brother and three younger sisters. I lived in GuangXi with my grandma for 22 years. I graduated from high school in 1994. When I turned 22, I graduated from the GuangXi Medical College. I moved to GuangDong of China when I started work. I worked in a clinic from 1997-2003. I became a doctor’s assistant in 2003. I got married in 2004. I am a housewife since I moved to my husband’s town. I had my son in 2005. I moved to S.F. on Jul.30, 2008.

My childhood was suppressed. This is a typical Chinese-style education. I lived in GuangXi of China with my grandma when I was a child. My childhood was unhappy because my grandma was very strict with me. When my neighborhood kids played outside, I had to read or study at home. One day, I stayed at my classmate’s home to watch TV after school. I enjoyed it so that I forget the dinner time. My grandma didn’t have dinner ready for me. I had to go to sleep on an empty stomach. I didn’t have lots of friends. My best friend was my elder brother. I always listened to stories he organized. He played the computer games very well. I was proud of him at that time. My favorite hobby is reading so I had near-sighted eyes.

The new environment and new life, I have been use to adapt to it. I live in North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco with my husband and my son. I study ESL in CCSF. I have many friends in the school now. My son and I walk to school on Monday through Friday. My son is a four-year-old boy. He is very energetic. I feel tired to take care of him, but he takes so much happy to my family. I love him very much. My family has fun to outside on every weekend. I always take my son to the Toys store. He can play the toys there freely. My son really likes to play the computer games, but I dislike what he does. I’m afraid his eyes are hurt.

Anybody can make his dream come true. I hope to be a go-getter. My short-term goal is to pass the driving road test next month. My main goal is becoming a nurse assistant. I wish my family to be healthy. I hope my English to prove better quickly. I will study ESL in Ocean campus of CCSF in 5 years. Maybe I’ll find a part-time job. I think I will become a nurse assistant in 10 years. I can study after working to become a nurse in 20-30 years. I hope to give good life to my son. Maybe I will live in San Jose. I should study hard so that my dreams come true.

A Hard Life, by Zoila Iraheta

I was born in Jutiapa, Guatemala on January 30, 1971. When I turned 15, my sister Aracely was born. I was very happy because my life was very busy doing babysitting and cleaning the house. When I turned 18 I moved to Guatemala City and she was 3 years old. I lived there for 3 years. After my father passed away, I turned 21 and came to the USA.

My childhood was better than now. I didn’t have to work and I didn’t have any problems. I was happy and played with my friends. We spent time in the backyard. My best friend was Maritza and she lived across the street from me. She still lives in Guatemala. She’s married with three kids.

Now my life is very hard. Now I live in San Francisco with my sister on 29th St. We are renting and we split the rent. For a living we work. She’s very busy and I am too she works in Fisherman’s Wharf. I work in Columbus Ave. We have different schedules at work. I sell jewelry, and I like it very much. I work six days a week, ten hours a day. I go to school to learn English. I like to go to the beach when I have time.

I have many hopes and wishes. I hope the world will have peace. I wish I will get pregnant this year. I want to become a mother and hope to best mother in the world I hope to make my mother very happy happy because she wants to be a grandmother.

www.Kelvan's Lively Life.com, by Jiahong Ou

“At the beginning of my life. It was busy and interesting.” I was born in Guangdong, China in 1987s. When I turned 5 my granny immigrated to S.F. I started elementary school in 1993 and I had a dream to be a banker. The first time I traveled to Hong Kong in 1999. The people were very nice and friendly. 2000, I had my first girl friend when I was study in middle school. I graduated from my high school in 2005, and I went to Guangzhou University studying the horticulture. Three years later, I got my diploma, and I started work in the government. My family had waited for the immigrant for more ten years. Finally, we moved to San Francisco on July, 2009. It makes me very excited.

“Everyone has a childhood. I think childhood was the happiest time in my life.” When I was a child, I had no pressure, I felt happy and free under my parents’ care. I lived in Guangdong, China before I immigrated to S.F. I love this place very much. Even though I left there. Sports and guitar were my hobbies when I was in middle school. Until I started the high school, I was busy in my homework so that I played the guitar and sports less and less. I had many friends, someone who I have been keeping in touch with since I turned 5. Now, I miss my childhood and I want to go back to being a child.

“Immigrated to U.S that gives me a great pleasure, and I will be American citizen soon.” I have been living in my aunt’s house in Daly City since I moved to U.S. There are eight people lived in the house. It’s a three-family unit. I have been studying ESL in CCSF since I moved to U.S. My friends are almost my classmates who are Chinese people. Actually, I really want to make friend with American, Africa American, Italian and so on.

“I have many goals for my future. Let’s create our future.” Actually, I felt perplexed when I came to U.S. I don’t know what kind of job I will want to do. My short-term goal is improved my English. And then, to start CCSF with credit one year later. In five years, I hope to get a job as a nurse because I want to take care the people who have illness. I hope I can get married with a pretty girl and have two or three children. I like my family to be full of vitality. I hope I will be a rich who can buy anything I want.

A Changeable Life, by YueHua Mei

There were many changes in my life. I was born in Taishan China and grew up there. I started school when I was six. I graduated from high school in 1960.After 7 years, I got married with my classmate Jin.2 years ago, we celebrated our 40th anniversary. We had a very big party with our whole family. My husband and I were very happy. At 1968, our son was born. After 2 years, our daughter was born.

My life was changed when I immigrated to the U.S. in 1992 with my husband. We have been living in S.F. since we came U.S. Next year, I got my job. I have been working at On Lok lifeways for 16years. I take care of seniors. I love them and my job very much. I work full time. I work 8 hours a day from 3pm to 11:30pm.and 5days a week. Before work I go to school to study English and computers. I like to study because English is very important for me. I have to speak and write English at work. I’ve been studying at CCSF for many years.

I’ve been living in S.F. since I came to U.S. with my husband. Our son and daughter-in-law live in S.F. too. Our daughter son-in-law and granddaughter live in Richmond . I have many friends. My best friend is my classmate in middle school. We have kept in touch with each other for more than 50 years. I think she will be my best friend for my whole life. I used to eat out and eat a lot of meat in the past, but now I like to eat at home and eat vegetables. I used to see movies and write letters, but now I like to watch TV and use the computer to send e-mails.

I have many goals for my future. My short-term goal is I’ll have a big birthday party with my whole family and travel to Lake Tahoe next month. My main goals are: I will continue to work and continue to come to ESL and Computer classes to learn more English and computer skills. After a few years, I’ll retire. My goal for the future is to keep healthy and continue to study. Then I will enjoy life and travel around the world. I hope I’ll live better and better in the future.