Hello! My name is Chamroeun Pen (pronounced Chahm-Ron Pen). I am the youngest son of an impoverished Cambodian family, with five sisters and two brothers. Growing up, my siblings called me, “Chramouh Thom,” meaning “Big Nose” because I have a big flat nose, wider than most people in my family. Sometimes, they would call me “Krabei Tuk” which means “Water Buffalo” due to my dark brown skin. I hated these names; whenever my siblings called me “Chramouh Thom,” or “Krabei Tuk,” I got so mad and ended up cursing them. Mother would whip me if she heard me swearing. She didn’t want me to become a spoiled child. Still, I’d rather take the punishment than allow them make fun of me.

Being the youngest, I often misbehaved. Mother hated when I ate palm sugar, one of her cooking ingredients. She attempted to hide it in different corners of the kitchen walls or even in the rice jar. Yet, I always found it and ended up eating almost all. I then blamed my older sisters for my actions. Still, I was never able to fool Mother. She knew that palm sugar was one of my favorite snacks. Mother spanked me for lying. She always wanted me to be good, but it was hard. I remember stealing a cloth-washing-brush at the market at the age of nine. Living in a poor family, I thought that if I could put one brush in my pocket, the seller wouldn’t notice. My sisters would be happy if I could get them a new brush without spending money. All of which convinced me to grab a small brush, blue handled with white bristles, and put it in my pocket. But the brush was slightly bigger and didn’t fully go in, leaving half of its handle sticking out. I got caught, of course. My parents whipped me yet again. They told me to never steal nor to lie, two of the principles that stick with me until this day.

Growing up, I loved watching Western cartoons. Tom And Jerry was my favorite. Whenever the show was on, I would sprint barefoot to my neighbor’s house and watch it until they kicked me out. My interest in Western films continued. Spiderman became my favorite superhero. Seeing a man wearing red and blue tights, shooting a spiderweb from building to building, was fascinating. What was even more intriguing was witnessing tall skyscapers spread out across a massive city. It was a fantasy that was far from my reality.

Due to my family’s financial struggle, my siblings were forced to drop out of school early to help support my family. I am the only one in my family lucky enough to have the chance to pursue knowledge.

My father, a Khmer Rouge survivor and a farmer, often reminded me that education is key to success. To me, this was a powerful message, especially in a country where many educators were killed. Pursuing education in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge was extremely difficult. Khmer schools offered limited teaching. Many Khmer students, including myself, were clueless about the world beyond our borders. If I had not been given the opportunity to study in America, I don’t know how my life would have turned out. Studying in America has completely changed my life.

I came to the U.S. in 2008. Coming to America truly felt like I was entering a new world. Even in the summer, the weather was still much cooler. Witnessing tall buildings that covered a massive region was incredible. Riding on a wide, smooth highway, full of vehicles of all sizes, without having to worry about hitting chickens or cows made me feel much safer. But the most shocking thing was experiencing American culture. Living in Seattle, I rarely saw people come outside to play. The food was very different too. Buns filled with fried beef patties, light vegetables, and cheese known as cheeseburgers were a traditional meal. Most American dishes have a lot of meat. During my first year in America, I saw my guardian cook a tray full of steaks. I was shocked. That much meat could feed my whole village back in Cambodia. Yet, I was always happy that there was food. The juicy beef melted in my mouth. I could understand why most Americans love meat. 

Studying in America, I was at a huge disadvantage. The language barrier proved to be a real challenge. I had to work much harder than most native students, doing whatever it took to pass my classes. Playing American sports, hanging out with my American friends changed me. Before I knew it, I was becoming Americanized. Yet, I never lost track of my main goal, which was to become the first person in my family to finish school. Despite the emotional journey, full of ups and downs, I was able to maintain my focus in school and graduate from an American college with decent grades. 

I am thankful for the opportunity. I am honored to fulfill my father’s dream. Now, I can call myself a college graduate, the first in my family and one of the few from my country.