Only 10 years ago, Mai Ha, 17, a senior at Dodge City High School, was stepping onto American soil for the very first time, a nervous, excited, and sad second grader, having just left family, friends, and the land she knew as "home," behind in Vietnam.

With her were her parents, who were determined to give their daughter the opportunities she could never have had in her homeland. She spoke no English when she arrived – by far the most difficult barrier she faced – but today has no hint of an accent of her native Vietnamese, which she still speaks at home.

Southwest Kansas Register: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Mai Ha: I have a brother who’s 25 and currently living in Vietnam. When my parents and I moved to the United States, my brother decided to stay back in Vietnam with the rest of the family and take care of my grandma who was ill. We have a huge family; each of my parents has about six or seven brothers and sisters.

SKR: What made your parents decide to move to the United States?

Mai Ha: I believe that my parents decided to move to the United States, perhaps because their lives in Vietnam were a constant struggle, and they were determined that I would take advantage of every opportunity in a new country.

SKR: Do you remember how you felt when you first heard you were moving to the United States?

Mai Ha: As a little girl, I was really excited, but at the same time it was heartbreaking and sad to leave all my family members behind, especially my brother, because he had been my guardian, my advisor, my protector.

SKR: What were your first impressions of the United States?

Mai Ha: When I first stepped foot on America and looked at my surroundings, I thought to myself, "WOW! This is a beautiful country!" I remember stepping out on the sidewalk of California and feeling so afraid that I was going to get run over by hundreds and thousands of cars. And what I remember most was when I barely walked outside of the building, I felt the wind blowing cold air across my face and wow, I thought I was going to die. It was so cold. The reason why I felt this way is because Vietnam is a hot and humid country; there’s always nice weather, and temperatures running around 90 degrees. Comparing Vietnam to the United States, I felt like it was extremely cold in America.

SKR: Was it difficult for you, being a little girl in a new country?

Mai Ha: I felt like I had a disadvantage starting at a very young age. Although I felt lucky to be living in the United States, my first few years in America were really tough. At the start of school I had hardly any friends because I couldn’t speak English. I remember the anger and frustration of knowing what I wanted to say, but not being able to find the words, or of being afraid of mispronouncing them. Sometimes this made me feel as though I had no voice; I could express no feelings. The feeling of not having a voice made me become very shy and withdrawn. Later I began to make friends pretty easily because I had people trying to get me to talk. Everywhere I go now I try to make a good first impression.

SKR: How does school here differ from your school in Vietnam?

Mai Ha: The school structure and system in America compared to school in Vietnam it totally different. Here, the teachers tell you what you need to know to prepare you for the next level of education, compliment you on your achievements; they persuade you to follow your dreams. In Vietnam, what you do is your choice, teachers don’t really have an opinion or persuade you to do anything.

SKR: What are your favorite subjects? Do you take part in any extracurricular activities?

Mai Ha: Chemistry and Math would probably have to be my favorite subjects. In school I am involved in Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, NHS (National Honors Society), KAYS (Kansas Association For Youth Services), SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Peer Helpers, and ETS (Educational Talent Search). What I mainly do out of school is play tennis or volleyball, and help out in the community by translating for the Vietnamese people in the Dodge City Community.

SKR: What has been the most difficult part of living in the United States?

Mai Ha: The language barrier was the hardest for me, and seeing my parents also struggling with it the first few years made me become so passionate about helping others. I translate for Vietnamese people who don’t speak or understand English and need help. Translating makes me feel so proud of myself for knowing I was once in their shoes and now I’m able to speak the English language and help out people who have the language barrier. It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve become more understanding and more empathetic toward people who are either immigrants or people who are changing their lives.

SKR: What do you like most about America?

Mai Ha: America is a wonderful place. My parents and I, we all feel lucky that God gave us this opportunity to start a new future in a whole different country. I have no regrets in leaving Vietnam, because now I have a future filled with many hopes and dreams that I know I can achieve in America. The whole feeling of freedom and others accepting you for who you are is an amazing feeling.

SKR: You and your father became American citizens last year. Why did you wait so long, and what was it like?

Mai Ha: My dad never found the time to study for the citizenship test because he was always tired after coming home from work. When he finally found the time to study, I was encouraging him and telling him to go take the test because I knew he could pass it easily. He knew all the facts that were on the study guide, he just needed someone to push him and build his confidence. So when he had the courage to take the test and passed it, I felt so proud of him because he had reached his goal. He became an American citizen. Luckily for me, being under the age of 18, I didn’t have to take the test; I only had to attend the oath ceremony, and automatically became an American citizen.

SKR: What will you do after you graduate this spring?