Not to take anything for granted

by Pirat Savettanan
Chaminade Senior

    My name is Pirat Savettanan, a Thai student in Chaminade College Preporatory School.  First and foremost, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself as an international student studying in the United States. It is an honor for me to be part of this Chinese-American newspaper.?

    I grew up in the city of Bangkok, Thailand in 1983. I did not come from a rich family. My father worked so hard in order to get me in a good school, have a good education. He was a veteran in a business world. So his goal was to give me the best education there is. All my life, I’ve been living in a boarding school. From kindergarten to high school. I met my parents twice a week during the school year. During free time, I would do sports and play musical instrument (i.e. guitar, piano). I also like to read. I have a lot of interest in English language. 

    My parents used to tell me that English is practicing universally. He sent me to New Zealand as an exchange student for three weeks. I also had to take English courses during summertime, especially grammar. But the fact that I live in Thailand and I did not practice English sufficiently. That leads to my father’s decision to let me study abroad. He spent three years working hard to keep as much money as possible so that it will be enough for a three-year tuition. Until March of 1999, he was persuaded by his friend to send me to study in St. Louis. 

    At first, I had a hard time about his decision because I’ve never been anywhere outside Thailand more than two months before. I was afraid of discrimination in this country, too. I had to leave my friends in the middle of my freshman year to begin the biggest challenge of my life, be a permanent international student in a different place. 

    I left Thailand in July 1999. I came to United States with my brother, Piroon. We spent two weeks learning what’s around St. Louis w! ith the program that Chaminade provided to the international students. We learned more about English and other international students?culture. The school started in August, I was afraid of the Americans because my English was not strong enough. I was scare to ask my teachers questions that I did not understand because if I messed up one sentence, I thought my friend would laugh at me and taunt me. Everything I thought it would be came to the opposite. 

    I was fortune enough to get accepted by my friends and learn more of their cultures. After three weeks of mental paranoiac, I hung out with my American friends most of the time. I participate in the school sport such as cross-country and track & field, I love running. I think sports are the best thing that I can get to know more people. Competitions bring new friends. However, there were times that I was depressed. 

    During the first school year, I did not do well academically. When I have free time, I decided to read English novels more often so that I can understand more of English language.?Now that I am a senior, I improved so much in English along with a sense of speaking English. Even if I’m in United States, I never forget where I came from. I realize that there are so many people out there that are not lucky enough to be in the position where I am right now and I did not take this opportunity for granted. I’ve got my family who looked after me, waiting to see my achievement. I learned so much from St. Louis; I will never forget this city. 

    Finally, I would like to thank you again for putting me in this newspaper. I hope that what I wrote would inspire another young boys not to take anything for granted. I was really fortunate to be in Chaminade School. 

    Go Rams, Blues, Cardinals.