A story is meant to be told
We are all different, but everyone has a story
Everyone comes from a different place. Everyone has a story. Some people are happy, while others face tremendous struggles. People share their stories of cheer, sadness, heroism, and romance. Mine is the story of an unassuming kid from a third-world country, striving to earn an American education. It is how an opportunity has completely changed a life. What is your story?
Everyone has a story
4 thoughts on “Story”
Share Your Story
Contact
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA | Preah Sihanouk, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Fulfillingapromise2008@gmail.com
fulfilling a promise: Life after the Khmer Rouge
4 thoughts on “Story”
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The first time I met Cham was in a business writing course during my junior year at the University of Washington. Out of the many people I’ve met in my transfer year there, Cham was the most unassuming, hard-working, and interesting person I had the privilege of getting to know. One of the first things he told me about himself was his passion for travel and touring. Through the college classes we both had to grind through, Cham really thought outside the box and was not afraid to ask or answer difficult questions. I could tell that his passion for school and education was genuine and came from a place of self-motivation and drive.
I find Cham’s zeal to help out underprivileged children across Cambodia in advent of a personal memoir nothing short of inspiring. Cham’s experience of living and touring around the Asia Pacific as well as his arduous upbringing brings a fresh perspective in contrast to a Westerner’s value towards education. I truly believe that Cham’s story has the capacity to shift the hearts and and minds of those that need a fresh perspective of family, school, and sacrifice.
-Nicholas Ngadiran
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Thank you for sharing, Nicholas! It has been a pleasure knowing you. You have been a great friend.
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I just finished reading the last page of Fulfilling A Promise, and found myself wanting to know where Cham’s story went next. Here at the website, my heart is warmed to see pictures of Cham and his friends and family members, and learn more about the continued efforts toward educating Khmer youth.
My story? I grew up a privileged white girl in the early 1970s in Edmonds, Washington. I read books, played with my dog, went to summer camp, and received a top-notch education. Watching the news with my father every evening, I saw images of war in Vietnam: images of napalm burning the tropical forest; images of desperate families and crying children fleeing their homes; images of young American soldiers returning home in caskets. When refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia began settling in suburban neighborhoods and attending Edmonds schools, I wanted to know their stories, but could not easily communicate with them.
Years later, while attending college in Olympia, I volunteered to teach English to a Khmer woman whose family had been resettled in the community. Cheng-chak was illiterate in her language, and I had no experience teaching English, so one of her teenage daughters always sat with us in the bedroom and translated. Cheng-chak also suffered terribly from migraine headaches, so many lessons were cancelled. One evening I joined the family in making egg rolls, and I can say with certainty that I learned more than anyone that night.
But that early experience led me to study teaching English as a second language (TESL), which then led me to South Korea, where I taught English to adults, teens, and children at a language school. My career as a TESL teacher continued about 10 years, culminating in a position at an international school in Southern California.
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Hi Laurelle! Thank you so much for sharing your story. After reading your story, I can tell that you’re an amazing teacher. It’s so cool that you have taught a Khmer student. I’m sure Cheng-chak and your previous students feel very lucky to have had you as their teacher. Keep up the good work.
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The first time I met Cham was in a business writing course during my junior year at the University of Washington. Out of the many people I’ve met in my transfer year there, Cham was the most unassuming, hard-working, and interesting person I had the privilege of getting to know. One of the first things he told me about himself was his passion for travel and touring. Through the college classes we both had to grind through, Cham really thought outside the box and was not afraid to ask or answer difficult questions. I could tell that his passion for school and education was genuine and came from a place of self-motivation and drive.
I find Cham’s zeal to help out underprivileged children across Cambodia in advent of a personal memoir nothing short of inspiring. Cham’s experience of living and touring around the Asia Pacific as well as his arduous upbringing brings a fresh perspective in contrast to a Westerner’s value towards education. I truly believe that Cham’s story has the capacity to shift the hearts and and minds of those that need a fresh perspective of family, school, and sacrifice.
-Nicholas Ngadiran
Thank you for sharing, Nicholas! It has been a pleasure knowing you. You have been a great friend.
I just finished reading the last page of Fulfilling A Promise, and found myself wanting to know where Cham’s story went next. Here at the website, my heart is warmed to see pictures of Cham and his friends and family members, and learn more about the continued efforts toward educating Khmer youth.
My story? I grew up a privileged white girl in the early 1970s in Edmonds, Washington. I read books, played with my dog, went to summer camp, and received a top-notch education. Watching the news with my father every evening, I saw images of war in Vietnam: images of napalm burning the tropical forest; images of desperate families and crying children fleeing their homes; images of young American soldiers returning home in caskets. When refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia began settling in suburban neighborhoods and attending Edmonds schools, I wanted to know their stories, but could not easily communicate with them.
Years later, while attending college in Olympia, I volunteered to teach English to a Khmer woman whose family had been resettled in the community. Cheng-chak was illiterate in her language, and I had no experience teaching English, so one of her teenage daughters always sat with us in the bedroom and translated. Cheng-chak also suffered terribly from migraine headaches, so many lessons were cancelled. One evening I joined the family in making egg rolls, and I can say with certainty that I learned more than anyone that night.
But that early experience led me to study teaching English as a second language (TESL), which then led me to South Korea, where I taught English to adults, teens, and children at a language school. My career as a TESL teacher continued about 10 years, culminating in a position at an international school in Southern California.
Hi Laurelle! Thank you so much for sharing your story. After reading your story, I can tell that you’re an amazing teacher. It’s so cool that you have taught a Khmer student. I’m sure Cheng-chak and your previous students feel very lucky to have had you as their teacher. Keep up the good work.