As Quan's father opens the letter, his hands begin to tremble. When he reads what is inside, he begins jumping with excitement and calls out to his two sons. After a 10-year wait, they are finally going to America. Ut Vu spoke halting English, and his wife and sons spoke almost none when they got here. Emigrating was just one milestone for the family.
Today holds another.
Six years after arriving in this country, Quan Vu will graduate today from the University of Virginia. His English is almost flawless now, just like his 3.8 grade-point average. Later this year, he will enter U-Va.'s medical school. It was such an honor to be here. I wanted to make full use of it.