The Good Immigrant Student

      I was able to connect with some of what Nguyen presented. It was in middle school that I myself had a hard time dealing with other kids. I felt a lot more self-conscious at that time then I do now. Before, I could not speak very well do to a very strong stutter. It was so bad that many of my teachers began to not call on on me because I could not be understood. I had realised then that the world would not wait for those whose abilities did not meet the standards of others. I eventually took a special education class that specifically focused and worked with children who could not speak normally. I took that class for two years before I had learned all of the tricks to speaking normally, with confidence. My speech teacher praised me as 'the most improved'. Instead of being shy and timid, I answered questions with confidence, and even made new friends. I was able to reflect with Nguyen's desire to disappear, to not be called on, and to not have to speak in front of the class. Speech is still something that I am working on today. This specific reading has made me able to remember the past experiences that I had previously tucked into the back of my mind to never be called up again. I believe that in recalling these things, I can continue to strive to become better.