Person Statement---KW

7 May 2014r

Sitting in front of the wheel, I start to review my past three-year oversea life.  I step on the pedal, we the clay on the wheel spins and at the same time, my memory starts to spin.

The first time I put my hands on clay was three years ago, which was also the first year I stepped onto the United States’ soil.  My first school in America was a private school on the East Coast.  I was amazed by every new thing around me.  No to mention different languages or food,  I took part in many activities that I had never thought of, such as camping trip, skiing trip, or business trip, and I learned something that I had never got a chance to learn in China, such as wood-shop, tennis, or pottery.  I was overwhelmed by everything.  At that time everyday was full of curiosity and excitement.

I press down the clay.  My hands start to shake, and the little piece of clay is like an untamed horse on the wheel, eagerly wanted to get rid of my hands.

 The curiosity and freshness soon were taken over by endless reading.  I spent my class time with only a book, a dictionary, a check sheet and a supervisor.  I sat on a big desk with other students and I just read by myself.  After I finished each task on the check sheet, I signed my name beside it.  It was weird to me; however, I did not think it was a big problem because I was an International student, and I did need to get used to western culture and learn plenty of vocabulary.

I feel the center of the clay and dig in.  Slowly, I pull up the clay to form a cylinder.  However, I push too hard at one point, and the cylinder gets lightly twisted and almost collapses.

I graduated my ESL program after one year.  I expected less reading and more other subjects but things barely changed.  Although I could take some math and science courses, I passed all the exams and directly took them off my program list.  The rest of the list was just history courses, government courses which meant an increased amount of reading.  I felt sick of it.  My school time mostly was like endless study halls.  Sometimes I thought myself as a robot: read, look up words, sign, read, look up words, sign… At the same time, I was told that this way of learning was not ordinary in the United States.  I started to think about transferring to other schools, but I asked me myself “Can I give up all the things I have right now and if I leave where can I go?” How could I give up a place I knew so well?  How could I depart with my best friends and favorite teachers?  I suffered night after night and couldn't get an answer.

I cut the top of the cylinder.

Soon, as the mid-term was over, I had to make my decision.  Transferring to another school would mean that I would have to leave all the things I knew and loved behind and go on a new unknown and risky journey by myself again.  However, if I wanted a better education, I had to sacrifice something and take the risk.  So I did.  I found a new school and got ready to leave.  The saddest part of leaving was saying goodbye.  Some people were upset and tried to persuade me to stay.  Most of them, however, just gave me hugs and said, “Whatever is best for you, Kevin.  We will miss you.”  On the way the airport, tears secretly dropped down my cheek.  I left the tears in the past, and took the hugs and love with me on my next journey.

This time I carefully and gently push the cylinder to make it even.  I shape it carefully to the shape of vase.

 The new chapter of my life started when I stepped into my new school.  I was lonely for weeks and I missed my friends so much.  However, the education challenged me intellectually in ways I could not have previously imagined, and I knew deeply inside that things would get better soon.  I was right.  I not only started to join the school activities, but also began to take lead.  I started a pottery club and I helped to organize an International food club.  I feel lucky that I took the risk to find the education I wanted, and I found it.  This also was the most significant change in my life, and I know it will continually encourage me and influence me in the future.

 I turn off the switch, and a vase is shining on the wheel.  I take it up.  It’s ready for the next stage.