HUI QIAO WU

OAKLAND HIGH SCHOOL | HEALTHPATH INTERN, PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMY

My dad agreed to move for my education because it is common to hear that the United States has the best schools and opportunities.

We came to California from China when I was 7. My parents don’t speak English. My dad cooks in a Chinese restaurant and my mom is a housewife but also a student at Laney College, just trying to learn some English.

In China, they focus on grades and test scores and not on volunteering or internships. This program actually helps you research about your future and yourself. I was originally in the HEAL program, twice, and now am a HealthPATH intern. It helped me develop my goal for the future in nursing and what nurses actually do.

To be super honest, money drew me to the health field. Because my family doesn’t speak English, they don’t have a lot of choices. Family is somebody you can depend on. Even though I applied to this internship myself, my family has fully supported me and I feel like I should support them with everything. My first priority is to sustain them. After my dad retires, I will be the only income source.

I know that other people don’t have a nice family like me, so thank you guys for caring for me.