he place where Hmong teens can speak and be heard.

hmoobteen.hmong.org
he place where Hmong teens can speak and be heard.
HmoobTeen
This publication is made possible through Hmong American Partnership (HAP). HAP provides culturally appropriate social services to Hmong families in Minnesota, such as: employment services and English language classes for adults, after school programs for children and youth, and counseling and support
programs for families. For more information please visit www.hmong.org.
Hmong American Partnership
Attn: HmoobTeen
1075 Arcade Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106
(651) 495-9160
hmoobtm@hmong.org
hmoobteen.hmong.org
Contents
HmoobTeen magazine may not be reproduced.
SEX
Summer 2010
Regulars
Editors Bios: Who Was Your First Crush?
Editors Bios: What’s The Worst Pick-up Line You’ve Heard?
Editor’s Note
Knowing Your Hmong: You Know You’re Hmong When
Check Nws Out!: StarFam
Adult Role Model: Bao Vang
Public Health Column
Get To Know Your Birth Control Options
Victim of Love: Sexual Violence and Relationships
Early Sex and Teens: What are the Consequences?
Theme: Sex
Sexcitement
No Sex Education
Sex Education
What People Should Do!
Think First Before Doing It
Abstinence: Does It Still Exist?
Blong Yang’s Journal: October 8, 2007
Public Display of Affection
First Time
Midnight Shifts At Mercy
FEATURE: HmoobTeen Editors’ Have A Honest
Conversation about Sex and Relationships
Reads
Become a HmoobTeen Editor!
Hnub Tshiab Celebrates the Establishment of The
Hmong Women’s Endowment Fund
Making The right College Choices
College Survival Guide
Comics
Angry Hmong Girl
Sex!?
The Somebody
Page 2
Page 27
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Page 6
Page 8
Page 9
Page 19
Page 20
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Pages 16-18
Page 5
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Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 3
HmoobTeen
Editor’s Note:
Fall 2010 theme is:
Education & Poverty
Tell us:
Why education is important?
Is learning more than just at school?
What is life like in poverty?
DEADLINE: August 20, 2010
Send your work in!
Email: Hmoobtm@hmong.org or
Mail to: 1075 Arcade Street,
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106
Submissions unrelated to the themes
are also accepted.
Winter 2010 theme is: Our Story Cloth
Tell us:
Your thoughts on leadership in the Hmong community?
Will our cultural tradtions die in the near future?
Where will the Hmong people be in 50 years?
What do you love and dislike about being Hmong?
DEADLINE: October 10, 2010
I created an online survey asking the question, “Do you believe in abstinence?” The results may surprise you. Be sure to read this issue’s feature;
Editors’ Thoughts on Sex and Relationships put together by Editor-In-Chief,
Sai Vang. In addition Editor, Sandy Xiong wrote about her first experience
with sex education.
We hope that this issue will benefit you and the people around you. Thank
you for picking up a copy and making our voices heard and making the
voices of Hmong teens heard. After all, this is the place where you can
speak and be heard.
~ Meng Yang
4 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Editor In Chief
Sai Vang
Layout & Design
Sai Vang, Yeej Moua, Linda Thao, Matthew Saykao Thao
SEND IT IN!
It’s summer time and HmoobTeen brings you a theme that is not always
easy to talk or write about, but is on almost every teen’s mind. This summer
we dedicated this issue to the topic of SEX. As teenagers, the idea of sex
may give you discomfort or it may not. It just depends on how you look at
it. We decided to devote this summer’s issue to sex because it seems to be
a topic that is always kept quiet. For the most part, the topic of sex should
be kept private, but as a community it is a topic that is much needed to be
discussed. Sex should not be something that is kept in darkness. The more
we know about sex, the smarter we will be on devoting ourselves to making the correct choices. Throughout the magazine you’ll find many topics
surrounding sex such as abstinence, sex education, the consequences of sex
and many more.
HmoobTeen Editors
Nhia Lee, Nhia “Monie” Lee, Panhia Lee, Yang Lee, Jennifer Lor,
Jennifer Lysaythong, Yeej Moua, Linda Thao, Manee B. Thao, Matthew
Saykao Thao, Ka Zoua Vang, Blong Vang, Bao Xiong, Sandy Xiong,
Kelly Z. Yang, Meng Yang
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS and ARTISTS
Mysee Chang, Yong Vang, Cheng Yang, Yod Xiong, Daranee Her,
Kevin Yang, Katoou Thao, Christina Vang, Laura Vang, Liang Xiong,
Chia Mee Vang, Dara Lee
We pay for work we publish.
Articles/Photo Essays/Comics: up to $25
Drawings: up to $20
Poems: up to $15
You must include your name, age, city, state, telephone number and email
where we can reach you--even if you wish to remain anonymous.
All submissions are subject to revision. We may contact authors to work with
authors on revisions.
Submission Requirements:
Art-Must be on unlined paper and MUST NOT be folded.
Writing-Type in MS Word and attach document to your email.
HmoobTeen holds all the rights of works once published. Submissions sent to HmoobTeen
becomes HmoobTeen property, it is done at the risk of the sender and will not be returned.
Email your work if you can.
HmoobTeen (ISSN 1935-1542) is published 4 times a year: Summer, Summer, Winter and
Winter by Hmong American Partnership. Currently we reach over 20,000 readers per issue.
Our next issue, is the Summer 2010 issue, with the theme Sex will be out June 29, 2010.
Subscriptions/Back Issues: (651) 495-1526 or hmoobtm@hmong.org
The views expressed in this publication are of the authors’ and do not
represent opinions or the views of Hmong American Partnership (HAP) or
HmoobTeen, their staff, volunteers, funders or partners.
HmoobTeen tries its best to screen websites listed in the magazine. However,
the content, views and opinions displayed and expressed by the websites and/
or their respective organizations may, or may not reflect those of HmoobTeen
and HAP.
HmoobTeen is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Eliminating
Health Disparities Initiative from the Minnesota Department of Health, United
Way, and the Office of Justice Programs from the Minnesota Department of
Public Safety.
HmoobTeen Magainze was
launched in 1997 as “the place
for Hmong teens to speak and
be heard”. HmoobTeen has
grown into a nationally
distributed youth magazine
produced and written entirely
by a team of dedicated
Editors and teens from around
the country.
We are currently seeking new
teen Editors from the Twin Cities
metro area and Contributing
Editors from outside of
Minnesota! We want Hmong
teens 13-18 years old who
love to write and or create art,
are curious about the world,
are not afraid to ask
questions and not afraid to
speak their minds!
To apply send us a letter of
interest stating the following:
1) Why you want to be an Editor
2) What your interests are
3) What other activities you are
involved in
4) What are your career goals
Include writing and art samples*
with your contact information,
including, your name, complete
address, age, telephone and
email (email addresses are a
MUST!) to hmoobtm@hmong.org
or drop-off/mail to:
HmoobTeen Magazine
Hmong American Partnership
1075 Arcade Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106
Deadline: Sept. 24, 2010
Contact: Sai Vang, Editor-in-Chief
Email - hmoobtm@hmong.org
Phone - (651) 495-1526
*Written and design samples will
not be returned.
Become a
HmoobTeen
Editor
Seeking New
Editors from
the Twin Citie
s area &
outside of Min
neosta!
Editor Job Descriptions
Copy Editors
• Conduct interviews with youths, leaders, musicians, etc.
• Research and write articles
• Edit and select submissions for publication
• Proof read submissions
Media Editors
• Update/maintain website and social media pages
Marketing Editors
• Promote events, magazine, and advertisment sales
Visual Arts Editors
• Take photographs for writing assignments
• Edit and select visual
submissions for publication
All Editors
• Provide editorial direction for each issue
• Assist in the planning of events
Editors must be able to work independently
and as a team. Editors receive monthly
stipends and are paid for written articles or
designs published.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 5
Knowing Your Hmong
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Edito
, HmoobTeen
By Blong Vang
A short list of things that makes you Hmong.
1) Your house has a photo of General Vang Pao hung somewhere in the house.
2) You’ve attended a Hmong tournament.
3) You’ve attended a Hmong New Year Celebration.
4) You have a friend name Mai, examples: Mai Nou, Maita, and Mai Ka.
5) You have a small garden in your backyard with peppers, squash, cucumbers, corn,
cilantro and many more.
6) You or someone in your family owns a Toyota or a Honda vehicle.
7) You have ate boil chicken with Hmong herbs and rice.
8) You have a Mexican blanket.
9) You know someone who was married before the ages of 18.
10) You have an Asiantown.net account.
11) You listened to Paradise, KLS, WhyteShadow, Lue Yaj, or Cha Mee Xiong.
12) You or someone believes in Shamanism.
13) You’re a fan of papaya salad.
14) You or someone you know is from a family of eight or more siblings.
15) Your family owns traditional Hmong knives.
16) You read Hmong newspaper and magazines.
17) You speak Hmong.
18) Your parent compares you to your relatives about education, appearances, and
work experiences.
6 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
MN
6.
13.
15.
Are you a St. Paul teen? Interested in TV
or media production? Want to make a
change in your community?
Set It Up, a teen-produced TV show in Saint Paul, is currently
accepting applications for the 2009-2010 season!
Set It Up is an SPNN after-school program for St. Paul high school students that
teaches all aspects of television production. Teens get the chance to do
everything from pitching an idea for a segment to directing a studio shoot.
Set It Up airs every Monday night at 7pm on YTV- Channel 16 in
St. Paul. For more info or to apply, go to www.spnn.org/youth
and download an application or contact us at youth@spnn.org.
(651) 298-8903 www.spnn.org/youth
Hnub Tshiab Celebrates the
Establishment of The Hmong
Women’s Endowment Fund
On March 30th, 2010, Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving
Together celebrated the naming of the Hmong Women’s Fund.
ensure that long after we are gone, this work continues into the
future,” said Nou Yang, the current Board Chair of HWAT. In less
than five months, with the help of family and friends, the group
reached their goal, raising $25,000 to establish the endowment.
“This is just the beginning,” Nou Yang said, “a stepping stone to
our ultimate goal of raising $3 million.”
Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together (HWAT) is a
non-profit organization that was founded in 1998, when a group
of Hmong women leaders gathered together at a retreat to talk
about issues affecting Hmong women and girls. In 2005, another
retreat was held to discuss the progress that Hmong women have
made since 1998. It was realized that individually, Hmong women
have progressed and achieved but sadly at the institutional level
there were still social and cultural norms that prevented the full
success of Hmong women. HWAT’s mission is to be a catalyst for
lasting cultural, institutional, and social change to improve the lives
of Hmong women.
By 2015, HWAT hopes to accomplish their goal of raising three
million dollars. Of the fund, $500,000 will go towards the
creation of the Hmong Women’s Center and the rest of the fund
will ensure the operational and financial sustainability of HWAT.
Board Members believe that the creation of the Hmong Women’s
Center is significant for many reasons. The center will serve as an
office for HWAT and enable programming that will build Hmong
women leaders, create and continue family dialogues about gender and social change, strengthen intergenerational relationships
and serve as a neutral space where Hmong women can meet and
gather to talk about important business and social issues.
One way HWAT is working to accomplish their mission of creating lasting cultural and institutional change, is by establishing the
Hmong Women’s Endowment Fund. “It was with this frame of mind
that over a year ago, the Board of Hnub Tshiab made a commitment that we are in this work for the long haul. We wanted to
Currently, Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together is
working hard to reach their goal of $3 million. If you would like to
make a contribution, volunteer or would like to know more about
HWAT, please visit HWAT’s website at www.hmongwomenachieve.
org or email HWAT at info@hmongwomenachieve.org.
By Mysee Chang, 19, Mounds View, MN
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 7
Check Nws Out!
Starfam: On the Rise
By Meng Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, 19, Circle Pines, MN
On February 27th, 2010, HmoobTeen Magazine held
our Second Basketball Tournament Fundraiser. With the
success of last year’s tournament, we looked to make this
year’s bigger and better. Last year the tournament held 12
teams; there were 14 this year. Out of the 14 teams, one
team emerged as the undisputed champions: Starfam. With
their ability to shoot the three, drive it to the rim, and move
the ball efficiently, they captured the championship going
undefeated throughout the tournament. I sat down with four
members of Starfam; Kang Phen, Jimmy Phann, Norris Oui,
and Steven Deng, and asked them a few questions about
basketball, life, and winning the championship.
As one of the most recognized Asian-American basketball
teams under twenty in the Twin Cities, it didn’t take a long
time for the team to start winning championships once they
were formed more than two years ago. They credit their
positive attitudes in helping them advance their game. Jimmy
Phann explained, “What motivates me to play is watching other basketball players. If I see someone who is good, I’m motivated
to become better.” Teammate Kang Phen added, “Unfairness and teams that talk trash, we don’t like to talk; we let our game
speak for itself,” says Kang Phen.
Their name represents family. The group is more than a basketball team. They are a family. All of them hang out together
outside the game of basketball and they all consider each other brothers. Their bond is as strong as their talent. By means of
their winning ways, Starfam is a threat in any tournament and their best is yet to come.
2010 Tournament Final Four
1. Starfam
2. Royals
3. Team Magnificent
4. Elite 8
8 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Adult Role Model
The Insider with
Bao Vang
By Meng Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, 19, Circle Pines, MN
______________________________________________
H
mong people do not get on television very often, and
it is even rarer to see a Hmong person on television on
a daily basis. Unless you watch Sunrise 7 WSAW News
Channel 7 in Wausau, Wisconsin. Bao Vang is the anchor and
executive producer of Sunrise 7. Born and raised in Saint Paul,
Minnesota, the youngest of seven children, Bao attended Harding
High School where she received her first taste of broadcasting. “I
first learned about broadcasting in high school. Harding offered
students the opportunity to read announcements live on the air to
2,000 plus of our fellow students and teachers every day. I tried
it and I liked it – it was as simple as that!” she explained. Since
then she has not looked back. Bao worked tremendously hard on
her delivery, speech, diction, and confidence. She went on to
major in broadcast journalism and Spanish at the University
of Saint Thomas and graduated in 2006. Furthermore she is a
leader and an excellent role model for teenagers everywhere.
Like most Hmong teens, Bao’s parents did not approve of her
career choice. Her mother would rather have had her go into the
medical field or become a teacher. However that did not stop
her from chasing her passion for broadcasting. As the youngest
of seven, Bao is very grateful for her brothers and sisters. She
said, “As the youngest of seven surviving children, I was grateful
to have four very protective brothers and two sisters who held
my hand through growing pains. I thank them for caring enough
about me to encourage me to be the best person I can be.” As a
result, her family has had the biggest influence in her life. “I knew
they wanted the best for me so I did all I could in school and in
life to honor them.”
Bao is a tremendous inspiration for me. She is the prime example
of knowing what you want to do and doing it. I asked Bao some
questions about broadcasting and her career.
What is it like to be on TV every day?
“First and foremost, it’s fun. Secondly, I take the honor very seriously, trying to produce the most up-to-date news and information
for our viewers every morning. “
Do people recognize you?
“I never assume anyone knows me. So I smile to everyone so as
to signal to my fans that I am approachable and allow them to
say ‘hello’. The kids are the only ones who ask for an autograph,
which I occasionally give out.”
How do you like broadcasting?
“I am a natural-born storyteller and broadcasting allows me to
tell stories to thousands of people every day. Who wouldn’t want
my job?”
How did you achieve your goal and what separates you from
other people in your field?
“It’s going to sound cliche but hard work and determination. I was
passionate about ‘making it in the big world’ during high school
and college and achieved my goal through networking, earning
internships and never allowing a few setbacks to get the best of
me. I would like to believe I have an advantage over some other
journalists because through the history of my people and cultural
experiences, I can offer a different perspective in a mainstream
newsroom. I also proficiently speak, read and write English,
Hmong and Spanish.”
If you are interested in broadcasting, Bao is willing and able to
answer any questions you have. Please email her at
bvang@wsaw.com or you can stop by her news station for a visit.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 9
Sex
By Sandy Xiong, HmoobTeen Edit
or, 17, Maplewood, MN
I
was a fifth grader in Mrs. Nabil’s class when I was first
introduced to the inner workings of sex. Back then, my favorite
thing to do was sit on the swings, and pushing myself to reach
the sky. However, after recess one particular day, we had visitors
in our classroom. There was a man and a woman who warned us
to prepare ourselves as they introduced themselves. The man, in
turn, acknowledged our young age, and told us, “I will give you,
say, about five minutes to roll on the floor and laugh, chuckle and
snicker; afterwards, please try to restrain yourself from giggling.”
The woman had unfurled a folded board, and on the front was a
diagram of a nude woman for all to see. The man had unfolded
a board of his own, and there was a picture of a naked man. The
whole class erupted in laughter. The visitors pointed out body
parts (both external and internal), the male and female genitals,
the fallopian tube and ovaries, the testis and scrotum - all these
mysterious words. I will admit, I did find it interesting to learn
about sex, but I thought to myself, “Why are they telling us this
now?” It was as if they were expecting us to go home and utilize
this information to the best of our abilities, when we were just a
classroom full of giggling children.
I remember lunch that day, animatedly
talking with my friends; asking who had
already had their period, who were
wearing a training bra, who would ever
use a tampon and which boys seemed
to already have reached puberty. It
was petty talk, but it almost became an
obsession. Suddenly everything revolved
around boys and hormones. We became
interested in gossip, about who liked who,
and all this “big kid” stuff instead of running around and playing tag. Everyone
was in a rush to grow up. We were all
excited about learning these new things
wanted to experience them. At that point,
we had built a tremendous curiosity for the
unknown.
I don’t know why we were so enthralled
with sex, though, or why we still are. It
was just something that everyone kept
talking about in the media, with the older
kids, on television, the internet. It was everywhere. We were kids
and curious about the world. However, the more we learned, the
more we were forced to grow up. We realized that there was
more to life than scoring a goal on the soccer field and running
the fastest in a game of tag.
For me, there was really no need to grow up so fast. We might
have been extremely excited about growing up, but I still remember the days when the most exciting things included learning
the next letter in the alphabet, seeing what happens when you
mix red and blue, and the smell of freshly burned wood when
you sharpen your pencil. Growing up, Hollywood and the media
inflated the image of sex. If I could, I would just return to the few
days of innocence I had before I learned about the inner workings of sex. My innocent mind was suddenly stripped of its fairy
tale world. Thinking back, I don’t know why we laughed at those
nude pictures. Maybe it was because we knew how silly it was to
get worked up about sex and nudity. Maybe we knew that there
were bigger and better things in life, like reaching for the sky
while simply sitting on a swing.
No Sex Education at 13
By Yong Vang, 13, Saint Paul, MN
Hearing and learning about sex is not cool at my age of 13. It is not fun. It makes others feel uncomfortable. Some of my
friends said that when you learn about sex you should be at least 16 or even older. I think 18 is the perfect age to be
learning about sex.
My attitude about sex is nothing because I don’t like learning about it in class or outside of class. My brothers and sisters
say that learning about sex is good for you but I don’t see what is so fun about it. My parents say nothing because they
know nothing about sex, or maybe they do, but they never talk about it to me. I think that’s a good idea.
10 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Sex
Sex Education
by Cheng Yang, 17, Saint Paul, MN
Some teens make the biggest mistake of their lives by ditching health class. Little do they know that the stuff they teach is good to
known, like sex education. The class might be boring but the lesson might be useful. In health class, they teach about the consequences
(both positive and negative) of wearing protection during intercourse. If they paid attention during health class, they would have
learned about protection, HIV and babies. Some teens are unaware of the consequences of not wearing protection.
I knew this one guy who went to school with me. He’d always ditch health class every single day. Later on in the year, I heard that he
contracted herpes from a party he went to. From then on I never seen or heard of him ever.
In the end, I think sex education isn’t really that boring. It’s good to listen to these lessons and use them in real life situations. So if I were
you, I would think twice about ditching health class.
What People Should Do!
By Yod Xiong, 12, Saint Paul, MN
I think people should have sex when they’re married or when they’re older (over 18 years old). If you do have sex you might get AIDS
from it. One thing you should never do is have sex when you are 12 or 13 years old. Some people think they could do whatever they
want, like smoking, having sex and getting out of school at 12 or 14.
I have seen people that drop out of school when they’re 14 and I know one person really well. He told he that he had a hard time
and he didn’t have anywhere to go. He would sleep outside day and night doing nothing. My dad and mom always tell me not do
bad things at school, like getting in a fight, not doing all my work, and other things that are bad. My dad always says thing like, “If
you don’t think about what you’re doing right now, your future will be nothing.” Like, there is no future for you. My dad told me to think
about my future and what I should do when I’m on my own.
He told me to be good and be successful in school because
he asked, “What if you one day I wake up and he’s gone,
what will I do?” That is why he told me tot learn everything I
could, and use it when my dad is gone in my life.
About sex, my dad said you should have sex when you’re
married. That is the only time. And he told me do not even
think about sex at my age. For me to think about my life, the
future, and what to do when I’m over 18 years old.
Think First Before Doing It
By Daranee Her, 13, Saint Paul, MN including artwork
I think love is freedom. Nobody can force you to love someone. But having sex is a problem. Teenagers aren’t ready
to be parents yet. I think they need to graduate first before
they marry or have sex. Even older people around 18 -21
should need to learn how to cook and do chores in the
house before marriage.
I think about 60% of teenagers know how to cook eggs and
noodles in the microwave but don’t know how to do chores
yet. About 90% of all mother-in-laws don’t like to eat
noodles and eggs all the time. Girls, learn how to cook first
before you think about marriage or having babies.
Some of my friends think that it is freedom. If I ask my mom,
she would say, “Need to graduate first before thinking
about it.” I know kids in my school think about sex a lot but
they don’t think about their future.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 11
Sex
Abstinence: Does it still exist?
By Meng Yang, HmoobTeen Editor, Circle Pines, MN, 19
What is abstinence? For a simple definition; abstinence is
not having sex until you are married. I wanted to find out if
teens and young adults are practicing these days and age
because there are so many young parents. I’m sure you
know at least one person who is married due to unexpected
pregnancy. The results did not surprise me; it was what I
thought it would be because I believe teens treat sex like
it is the “in” thing to do and they need to have sex to be
considered part of the “in” crowd.
I made a one question (yes or no) survey on QuestionPro.com
asking, “Do you practice abstinence?” I posted the survey
on the popular site Asiantown.net and I posted the survey
on my Facebook page. A total of 50 teens and young
adults took the survey and the results came out one sided.
An astounding, 72 percent answered no and a meager 28
percent answered, yes.
Yes
28%
No
To me, this says teens and young adults are simply not
waiting for marriage to have sex. It’s hard for teens to fight
the urge when the media has so much influence, such as
TV, movies, and music lyrics influence sex so much. Though
that might not be the only reason teens choose to have sex
before marriage. I talked to one of the survey takers and
he said the only reason he had sex before marriage is
because his friends pressured him. Whatever the reason, the
results show that abstinence is not practiced by many teens.
Whether you choose to have sex or to wait for marriage,
the choice is yours; just remember to always be safe.
12 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Artwork by Christina Vang, Oroville, CA
72%
Sex
Blong Yang’s Journal
October 8th, 2007
People say, “it’s not too late to change” but they say so
because they’ve never been too deep into the kind of chaos
where they can’t turn back on what they have done. There are
many things people would rather not remember or turn back
on. It was years back, when Mom divorced Dad. The result of
all this inflicted on me personally because I was only seven,
probably eight and couldn’t maturely grasp anything to full
potential.
The divorce made it so wherever I went my cousins, they no
longer seemed like my cousins, and my family was not a family.
Wherever I went, there was the feeling of awkwardness, as
though I was an orphan. Even our home wasn’t a home
anymore. I stood alone and in darkness because I didn’t know. I
wanted to ask everyone “am I defined by my family?”
Whenever I met my cousins it felt as thought they tried to act
like nothing had changed, as though they’re accepting and
understanding. But in their eyes it clearly told me, “your mother
divorced your father, but she also divorced us and you live
with her. You chose her over us.” I felt as thought behind those
warm faces were pint up hatred and anger inside. They’re like
strangers. Strangers I talked with, grew up with, played games
with, watched movies with and every moment felt like we didn’t
know each other at all.
My mother’s decision for happiness and release, was my
horrifying nightmare. It drove me insane feeling like I wanted
to cry but can’t, feeling like I wanted to kill someone but I
shouldn’t; feeling like I wanted to lock myself and shut myself
from the world completely. My classmates and family didn’t
even know that the one always acting tough, always giving a
smile whenever they make laugh, argued with them, boss them,
ate with them, helped them and play games with them was
someone they don’t know. I am the stranger now. I hope it’s true
that “it’s not too late to change.”
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 13
Sex
Public Display of Affection
By Jennifer Lysaythong, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Sacramento, CA
“Ding Dong, Ding Dong!” The bell rings and I gather my
stuff into my backpack and head out the door. Some students are
walking slowly like lazy turtles; some are running lightening fast as
the cartoon character; Sonic. Some aren’t moving at all; couples are
kissing in the hallway touching each other. As I walk pass, I silently say,
“Get a room.” I am tired of seeing students making out in the middle
of the hallway, blocking traffic as we students try to get by them as
we go to our next classrooms.
“Lunch time!” Jerry say. It was a warm afternoon at 12:35pm, my
friends and I were walking to the X wing of the school building where
the tennis courts are to see the hot guys play tennis. By the time we
got there bunch of couples were kissing and holding each other
hands. I was so disturbed by the kissing sounds, laughter, giggling, and
the “Oh stop it babe.” I was not able to admire those lovely tennis
players. My friend and I were talking among ourselves about teenagers displaying too much and how the girls are showing too much skin
to guys. When I take a look at the couples, I notice every teen girls
are wearing short shorts that are probably not three inch above their
knees. Their shirt are short to the belly button and some are crossing
over the dress code. Anyway, I want to snitch on them and tell to the
principal, but the school won’t do anything.
One time I was walking to my forensic class and saw this Hmong
couple kissing. The girl hands was tightly over the guy shoulder and
the guy hands was on the girl waist and they walk drunkenly toward
to the Principal kissing. “Oh my gosh”, I said. My mind was surprised
that they were not in trouble. I was hoping they would get detention,
but I guess not.
My parents always lecture me about how I should appear in public,
how I should act, behave, use manners, and not do any type stuff that
will give me a bad name. I always keep those words in my mind and
keep it as a reference. I cannot understand why teens would like to
display so much affection in public. What I thought was that teens
like to show off in public. They want to show off that she or he is my
girlfriend/boyfriend so back off. Therefore I see couples in mall displaying a lot. There was this guy putting his hand inside the girl’s back
pants and I was just looking at the clothes display and noticed. I wish
my eyes had gone blind from that moment. It was gross and I wanted
to throw up and just say, “ Hellooo! This is a public mall, go somewhere and display your love, like a motel or your house.”
The main reason why I think teens are showing too much affection is
because they are easily influence by other people’s public display of
affection. Though I can understand the need to show your affections,
I sometime felt like kissing one of the tennis players at my school in
front of his friends and not care about what others think. But I will not
going overboard. I am fine with a kiss on the cheek.
14 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Poetry
First Time
By Anonymous
He made me smile and made me laugh
Who would know things like this would never last
After the party, my head in a buzz
He took me to a place just
He told me he wanted to love me
Told me I was his princess, soon I’ll see
I was young and believed every word
He was an older guy who experimented with the world
Looked into the sky as he kissed me
My eyes closed as he undress me
He touched me places that made me feel weird
His warmth took the cold away, it felt so pure
My heart raced, this didn’t feel right
My stupid curiosity gave in as I closed my eyes tight
The pain pierced in between me
I wanted to shout, tell him to stop, to let me go free
In the end, my virginity held onto him
He took every advantage of me because of this sin
I was a slave, thought he was my only one
He was smart and manipulative, always wanted some fun
He lied and cheated, he was experienced
I was dumb and young, took his tolerance
Now I am free, I realized he’s not for me
Found out later I’ve gotten an STI
If not sooner, I’d never been able to have a child
Even now I know he still mess with younger girls
He can’t have kids, so watch out for that pedophile!
Midnight Shifts at Mercy
Artwork by Katoou Thao, 17, Brooklyn Park, MN
By Kevin Yang, Brooklyn Park, MN
I used
to know
a couple that used to smoke
cigarettes together because
they promised that they
would burn their lives
side by side.
They used to share cigarettes
and her cherry lipstick used to chap his lips.
He could always taste her red tongue along the
pale dyes of the filter.
And he loved it.
They use to fight over the best brands.
If he was going to die with her,
he at least wanted to die with taste and style.
She could have cared less.
sparks destroyed everything in her mind,
left everything as ash so
she carried premium matches everywhere she went.
It was an addiction really, two pack a day
and hint: It wasn’t because of the nicotine.
Maybe it was the rat poison.
She remembered those old anti-tobacco commercials
those urgent public service announcements,
old geezers with gaping holes in throats,
rotting molars on swollen gums
undersized fetus.
She would have killed to have an undersized fetus,
oversized fetus, didn’t matter, with him.
But no, they just smoked. A lot.
Since then,
I’ve stopped asking questions in
emergency room lobbies.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 15
sex &
relationbout
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Questions
by
On a scale from one to ten,
how much do you know
about sex?
Manee: Five, because I’ve never had sex
and she’s learned some stuff about it. I
know about STDs and condoms.
Jennifer Lor: I would say six because
I’ve been through the whole process in sex
education and I’ve never done anything so
I wouldn’t know.
Kelly: I would say a nine. Honestly, I’ve
been there before and I do learn sex
education in school.
Meng: I would say a ten because I’m
older than everyone here. So I have friends
that go through a lot of stuff and they
tell me, a lot of guy friends that tell me
a lot of things. All that sex education and
media, really helps me know what it’s all
about.
Panhia: I would say an eight because you
learn from sex [education] and I have a lot
of friends who have been there and have
been pregnant without using protection. I
16 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
in-Chief
en Editor-
Te
, Hmoob
Sai Vang
guess I know the process of it but not really
the outcome.
Sandy: It kinda depends because there is
the sex part and the making babies part.
I’d say probably an eight. We have had
sex education and I did find it very
interesting. I probably laughed a lot but
still found it interesting.
Matt: I’ll probably say eight not because
I learned much from class but from what
people talk and tell me about that I never
learn. So I’m still learning.
Is it true that guys always
think about sex? The myth is
every five seconds.
Matt: No.
Meng: Yes, but not every five seconds.
I think that’s little exaggeration but I do
think guys think about sex a lot.
Matt: I think that depends on people
but for me I don’t. I have to be cleared
minded.
The myth is that guys think
about sex more than girls.
Meng: I really think that girls and guys
think about it the same, its kinda equal. I
mean girls don’t show it. Guys they have
a way of showing it. They are known for
showing their sexual [desire]. Yea, I think
they think about it equally. Sometimes girls
think about it more, from what I’ve heard.
Matt: Yeah, I agree with that.
Do the ladies agree with
what Meng said?
Jennifer Lor: It depends on the person.
If people want to make babies, people
just want to do it, people just caught in the
moment and they do it.
Manee: I guess in the teenager years,
guys and girls do both think about it the
same. It’s your prime [years] and your
instinct to reproduce. So I’m pretty sure it’s
your instinct to think about it too.
sex &
rela-
Sex
on a typical day, how often do
you think about sex?
Meng: I wouldn’t be able to count.
Matt: Probably per week, once or twice.
Sandy: I really never think about it. Unless
people start joking around about it, you’d
think about it. But you wouldn’t really stop
and say, ‘oh, I want to think about condoms
or think about making babies.’
Manee: Generally, in a day, probably
like three to five times. It’s not like, ‘oh wow,
I wonder how sex is?’ It’s just sex. It’s just
something that pops in your head. And then
you kinda just forget it. With guys, I think it
kinda just lingers on that idea.
Meng: With guys, anything that pops up
like they see an attractive girl, they think
about sex. They see something on TV or in
the movies and then they get aroused. It’s
kinda a lot for a guy.
“I think it’s
a natural thing for
guys and girls to
think about it.””
Jennifer Lor:
Do you feel pressure to have sex
in a relationship?
Jennifer Lor: Definitely not. People take
their relationship differently. If I’m serious
about a relationship, I’ll be serious. But If I
don’t want to do something he wants to do,
I expect him to respect my decisions. I don’t
think that in order to make someone happy,
you need to have sex with them.
HmoobTeen
Don’t miss
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Kelly: I got out of my relationship
because of that. I didn’t feel that sex was
the only thing I wanted from a relationship.
It’s more than sex. It’s just best to know
each other. In relationship, its best to know
the person and sex is at the other end. To
be in a relationship just for sex is not worth
it.
Meng: I think if you’re in a relationship,
sex should only come when you really get
to know each other. At least you’ve dated
for awhile, and you’re very comfortable
with each other. You know each other
inside and out. Sex should only come when
both parties are ready to do it. It can’t be
one side, if it’s one side, the relationship
won’t work anyway.
Do you feel pressure to have sex
by your friends?
Meng: Oh yeah, all the time – seriously,
all the time. When we we’re 16 and 17,
they said, “Oh, you’re the only one left”.
But now, one is married and one has a kid.
And where does that get you to, if that’s
the consequences of having sex early. I’m
going to college and I have a job. They
are at home watching their kid. I don’t
know who’s laughing now.
Jennifer Lor: My school is mixed within
grades and I have a lot of older friends,
they definitely talk about it. They respect
me as a younger person, and they don’t
really say that I should do it. But they do
sometimes bring up the sex talk - I’m not
comfortable with it but they don’t pressure
me.
Manee: I don’t think any of my friends
YES!
have had sex. We do sometimes joke
around about sex but we don’t pressure
each other. My older friends don’t who’ve
I’ve known for awhile never talk to me
about sex, and I appreciate it. It’s
awkward when an adults talks to me about
sex.
Matt: No one pressures me but I tell
people don’t it, because it’s stupid. About
a month ago, I said that relationships are
based on sex. Once you’re done with sex,
you’re done with your relationship. That’s
why I tell people not to do it because it
ruins your whole relationship.
Meng: I can agree with that though.
“You think that
you’re all in love
and then when you
guys do it, that’s it.
You can’t go on from
there.”
Matt:
Meng: The next step is to have a baby.
Manee: The first step is marriage.
Sandy: It depends.
Meng: That depends on a group of guys
and girls. A group of girls, they don’t want
you to go unless you’re really ready. With
guys, we have a sense of talking differently
within each other; it’s kind of like competition
in a group. In my group, it’s always
competition even though we’re really close.
It’s about whose gonna do it first or whose
going to do it the most.
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Summer
Summer2010
2010 HmoobTeen / 19
sex &
reaEditors’ have a honest converstaion
about sex & relationships
Continued from page 17
The stereotypes for girls who
have sex or assumed to have had
sex are whores, while guys are
not. What are your thoughts on
that?
down upon. They have the expectation
of staying in the house; cooking, cleaning, watching the kids. They social role,
it’s always immediate thought that girls
should do that. It’s really unfair and bias.
Regardless, people still do what they want
to do. Someone who has sex often, it’s not
something to judge someone by.
Meng: That’s what a guy does!
Matt: For me, it’s different. If you have
sex, you don’t talk about it; unless you mess
up.
“We don’t talk
about it, until we
In your circle of friends, do you
run into a problem.
Sandy: “I can see why
guys brag about having sex?
Most of my friends
a girl is considered
Meng: “Guys brag
always ask me for
a whore, because
about it all the time. advices. I’m more of
she is a girl she can
If it’s just a group of a big sister. “
get it anytime she
guys around, they
wants. For a guy, is
will bring it
harder. So when he
up. Like I said,
actually gets it, then
it’s always
they are praise for
competition.
it. It’s just generally
There’s always
more difficult for
some sort of
guys.”
bragging goMatt: But what if he gets the easy one?
ing on.”
Manee: I think Sandy is saying, guys depend on girls to say yes to do it.
Meng: It’s like, a guy will never deny a
girl but a girl will always deny a guy.
Does that justify why girls are
called whores?
Matt: No, but girls are suppose to be all
nice and conservative and pure. Guys can
do whatever you want.
Manee: Yeah, even in our culture it is like
that. If you get a girl pregnant, you have
to marry her.
Kelly: The girl always has the bad name.
Jennifer Lor: I think it’s what the social
world offers. Women and men are praise
different. Women are obviously looked
18 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Jennifer Lor: If my
friends do something like
that, they’ll tell me. But
they won’t too graphic
because they know I don’t
want to hear.
Meng: When a guy does
something like that, it’s
big news. One person
knows and then everyone
will know in an hour.
Jennifer LOr: It is
definitely about trust.
If they trust me they’ll
tell me. It’s not, “Oh,
you guys, I did it! Oh, I
did it!”
Kelly:
Pubilc Health Column
Get to Know Your Birth Control Options
By Ka Zoua Vang, HmoobTeen Editor, 18, Minneapolis, MN
A
s you grow older, you may become involve in
intimate relationships and the decision to be
or not be sexually active may present itself
onto you. The decision is really up to you but whichever you choose; know that sex does have its consequences such as sexually transmitted diseases and or
pregnancy. If you are not ready to be a parent, make
sure to use birth control. Nationally, nearly one million
young women under 20 years old become pregnant
each year. That means close to 2,800 teens get pregnant each day! Some of these teen pregnancies are
planned but the majority is not. They are the result of
misused or no use of birth control.
Birth control are the different methods to prevent or stop a girl
from getting pregnant or giving birth. Birth control may refer to a
variety of things from contraceptives (pills, injections) to abstinence
(not having sex). There are birth control options for both boys and
girls. If you choose to practice abstinence, it’s still valuable and
important to know about the various birth control options for the
future when you do decide to take that next step. There are a lot of
birth control options out there and you should choose one that suits
you and your partner. Some birth control methods work better than
others depending on comfort and is not always 100% guaranteed
in preventing pregnancies and or STIs. Be sure to consult with your
local healthcare provider before using any contraception on proper
usage.
Abstinence is not having sex at all. A person who practices
abstinence decides not to have sex. This applies to both men and
women and there’s nothing wrong with this. Do not let peer pressure
or other sources pressure you into it if you don’t want to. Abstinence
is the only birth control option that guarantees 100% of not getting
pregnant.
The male condom is the only method of contraception for men. It
is a rubber tube that’s closed at one end to prevent sperm from going inside of a girl. When used correctly, it is moderately effective
in preventing pregnancies. Studies show only 15 out of 100 couples
get pregnant a year using condom. When properly used, latex and
polyurethane condoms are effective against most STDs.
The female condom is not as widely used. It has a closed-end
ring on one end and an open end on the other. The female condom
is worn to create a barrier between the sperm and the female cervix. The female condom is less reliable with 21 out of 100 couples
pregnant each year due to breakage or misuse. Some side effects
of both female and male condoms include latex allergy or irritation
due to lubricants some condoms are treated with.
Also known as “the pill” is a daily birth control pill contain
hormones to change the way the body works and prevents pregnancy. Most birth control pills contain hormones such as estrogen and
progesterone to prevents the release of an egg during the monthly
cycle. There are a variety of birth control pills including the combination pill, morning after pill and mini pill but any type of birth
control pill will work best when it is taken every single day at the
same time of day. It does not protect against STD’s and when used
correctly, the chances of pregnancy are eight out of 100. Some
side effects are irregular menstrual bleeding, nausea, headaches,
dizziness, breast tenderness, mood changes, and blood clots.
The birth control patch is a thin, square patch that sticks to the
skin which releases hormones through the skin into the bloodstream
to prevent pregnancy. Like the birth control pill, a girl uses the birth
control patch based on her monthly menstrual cycle. She will change
the patch on her skin which can be her abdomen, buttocks, upper
arm or upper torso for three weeks in a row. The patch does not
protect against pregnancy and unintended pregnancy occurs only
eight out of 100 times. Some side effects include skin reactions at
the site of application, problems with contact lens use (a change in
vision or inability to wear the lenses) and menstrual cramps.
Spermicides come in different forms including cream, foam and
gel. They contain a chemical call nonoxynol-9 which kills the sperm
before it reaches the uterus. Spermicides are best effective when
used with other birth control method such as condom. 29 out of 100
couples get pregnant a year using spermicide alone. Spermicide
does not protect against STD’s and side effects include irritation,
recurrent urinary tract infections because the spermicide can disrupt
the normal balance of bacteria in a girl’s body.
Resources:
1) www.soundvision.com/Info/teens/stat.asp
2) www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 19
Public Health Column
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V ua
Sex
By
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17
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Mai has never had a boyfriend before. When she found out that a
boy in her class liked her, she was ecstatic. After a while, Mai would
be asked out by this boy. They started to date, and after a while, the
relationship became very serious. However, Mai was only a teenager,
and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for all the new experiences that
would come with dating. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, was very
willing to initiate sexual acts. Mai loved her boyfriend, but it caused
her pain that he would pressure her into these situations that made her
feel uncomfortable. The situation only got worse though, to the point
where Mai’s boyfriend would force himself onto her.
According to chapter six of the “World Report on Violence” published in 2002 by the World Health Organization, sexual violence is
defined as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted
sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed,
against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not
limited to home and work.” This means that sexual violence can happen
anywhere, anyhow and to anyone. Although it is an under reported
crime, this only signifies that not many people are willing to come out
with it. Sexual violence can be as simple as unwanted sexual comments
at work or at school. It can also be as big of a problem as rape in a
marriage, relationship, or even by strangers.
To prevent sexual violence, it is important to be well educated in its
area. Many people have the common misconception that only women
are victims of sexual violence. Sexual violence can happen to anyone,
from both women and men and towards either gender.
To prevent sexual violence from occurring, it is important that you do
not wander into unknown territories, especially by yourself or if you
are younger. People can easily commit this crime and get away without cost or reparations. It is better to travel in groups of people you
know well and whom you trust to lower your vulnerability. Consuming
alcohol and drugs increases vulnerability and makes it much harder to
protect yourself from sexual violence. This makes it more difficult to
interpret and effectively act on warning signs, and this may place you
in a setting where your chances of encountering a potential offender
are much greater.
As stated in the article provided by the World Health Organization, a
national study of violence by against women in the United States found
that women who were raped before the age of 18 years were twice
as likely to be raped as adults, compared with those who were not
raped as children or adolescents. Once a person has been sexually
violated, it is easier for that person to accept it the next time the
incident occurs. It is important that you realize how and why it occurred
in the first place, and take the proper initiatives to prevent it from
happening again. Furthermore, it may be detrimental to both your
mental and physical health, and is advised that you see a physician
and come forth with your issue, however embarrassing you may think it
may be.
Sexual violence has generally been a neglected topic in not only the
Hmong community, but in the world as well. It is not a topic to take
lightly, but much more need to be done both to understand sexual
violence and prevent it from elevating into a situation like Mai’s.
20 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Early
Sex and Teens: What Are The Consequences?
By Laura Vang of Planned Parenthood of MN, ND, & SD
I
n 2007, 5,182 babies were born to
girls between the ages of 15-19 and
67 babies were born to girls under the
age of 15. Each day about 14 adolescents give birth to a baby (MOAPP 2010).
Abstinence is the only 100% effective way
to not get pregnant or contract a Sexually
Transmitted Infection (STI) because one out
of four teens will test positive for a STI. If
you have a group of four friends, one of
you will likely get a STI in your lifetime.
Teen’s aged 15-19 make up 34% of
Chlamydia cases and 28% of Gonorrhea
cases. In 2008, there were 12 new cases
of HIV/AIDS involving teens ages 13-19
in the state of Minnesota (MOAPP 2010).
Despite the fact that most STIs are curable
or treatable, some people who
contract them don’t even know
they have one, as some STIs have
no symptoms. When a person
doesn’t know they have an infection, they won’t get treatment
and they can spread it to their
sex partner. The most important
thing to remember is that if you
are going to be sexually active,
it’s important to protect yourself.
Get tested and use condoms!
When I surveyed sexually active
males and asked why they don’t
use protection, most said it takes
away the pleasure. Others say
they don’t have the resources to
help protect from contracting an
STI or an unwanted pregnancy.
The majority said they would
rather not get a girl pregnant
because they are too young
to get married or become a
father. However, we have friends,
sisters and aunts who are forced
into marriage because of an
unplanned pregnancy. Teen
pregnancy is a problem in our
community and, although we
don’t talk about it, it is there. It
will not go away on its own unless we start talking about it and
start learning about safer sex options.
The major consequence of having sex at
a young age in the Hmong community is
that if a girl becomes pregnant she will
probably have to marry the baby’s father.
If a man chooses to not marry the girl, he
would have to pay a cleansing price or kho
to the girl’s parents at a cost of $1,200. If
you think that’s expensive, imagine raising
a child. On average it costs about $8,000
to $10,000 to raise a baby before it’s first
birthday, not including hospital bills. We all
know too well that in the Hmong community,
if a girl has a child out of wed-lock she
will have a harder time finding a husband
much less a good and responsible man.
She will likely be classified as “tainted
goods” and parents will view her as not
being “good enough” for their sons. It takes
a great deal of courage for a man to step
up to the plate and raise another man’s
child and love him as his own.
the age of 17. Because I didn’t have any
social support, I had two more children
soon after. Like most young couples, I was
forced to turn to public assistance for food
and shelter. I lived on food stamps and
received cash aid in a small amount of
$600 per month for a family of five. Every
day I struggled to stay in school. Eventually, I had to drop out of high school and
attended a teen mom class to get my GED.
Soon after, I pushed myself through college
and got a degree so that my three children wouldn’t be forced to live in poverty
like many do when born to young parents.
Reflecting back, what I want to relive are
the lost moments that were taken away
from my children because I was too
busy juggling between work and
school. I had step ladder children
(1 each year) and didn’t give each
child the undivided attention and
even though they didn’t suffer any
traumatic disorder from lack of time
spent with them, they deserved to be
loved to the highest capacity possible; and that was something that
as a young parent, you don’t realize
you took away until years down the
road.
Working for Planned Parenthood has
put me at an advantage because I
can educate teens about postponing sex until they are ready for all
the responsibilities that come with
having sex at an early age. There
are so many teen parents in our
Hmong community and although we
look at it as nothing more than a
young marriage, it is a barrier for
them and for their children when it
comes to accessing the best health
care practice and services. I always
say to my three teenage girls, “If
you are not ready to be a parent,
then don’t have sex.” It’s something I
remind my girls and I would say the
same to any teen.
As a teen bride at the age of 15, I faced
the struggles a young woman goes through
when she is thrust into a married role. As a
wife, you have to cook and clean for your
in-laws, so education comes last to all of
your responsibilities. I learned the hard
way when I gave birth to my first child at
But if you’re sexually active or plan to
be, protect yourself. Call (800)230-PLAN
(7526) for a Planned Parenthood clinic
closest to you for birth control and pregnancy testing or get an STI tests. All calls
and appointments are confidential and
most people qualify for FREE services.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 21
Lesson 2: Research. Visit
campuses, research colleges
(online and through
brochures), and find out
what you like. Don’t
procrastinate or you’ll
end up going to a school
that won’t be to your
taste. Even if you don’t
have things intricately
By Sandy Xiong, HmoobTeen Editor, 17, Maplewood, MN
planned out, it’s better to
have an idea of what you
might want. There will be
You’re at the very top of the mountain,
things that can restrict
looking down upon everything. From this
you; financial issues, distance, housing,
point of view, no matter which road you
campus locations, etc. that you will want
take, you’ll succeed. You’ve already made to know about ahead of time. Discuss
it this far, nothing can stop you now.
your college plan with your parents, your
friends, your family and even your teachers
Senior year. We all anticipate it, and yet
and counselors. You want to make sure
we all dread the end. You will find people that you are thorough in your decision
constantly asking you, “So, what’s after
making.
high school?” For some, they may join the
military, the marines, the army. For others,
they will immediately enter the work
force. As for me, I wanted to do
something my parents never got an
opportunity to do; attend college.
Making the
right
college choice
simply just ask your counselor and teachers.
Lesson 4: The rest is up to you. You may
or may not get accepted into the school of
your choice; but this all depends on who
you’ve been and strive to be. You are the
one who is going to college, so you are
the one who is going to have to work. As
early as freshman year of high school, you
will want to get ahead of the game; don’t
put things off, thinking that high school is
just petty drama. Concern yourself with
academics and find motivation to strive.
This way, you will save yourself the trouble
of worrying about not meeting college
requirements and expectations. Be
consistent in doing well in school, as well as
outside of school. You can try, but you
cannot triumph without the “umph”.
There isn’t a lot that a person can do
about college as senior year comes to a
Graduation is in a few weeks, and I have
to say, I’ve learned a lot of things in these
past four years. Here, I want to share
with you the many lessons about
education and how to prepare for college.
It’s a daunting task, and without help, you
are sure to be stressed. These are just
what I found to useful in my four years in
high school.
Lesson 1: Start early. No matter what,
you have to begin looking at colleges far
before the end of senior year, preferably
as early as freshman or sophomore year.
You don’t even have to start looking at
colleges yet; just know that you have to
take school seriously. This is where you
have to begin healthy habits that you will
carry into college, like disciplining yourself
to do your homework, staying away from
the television, computer and going out.
Instead, volunteer and join clubs, do sports,
anything that will reflect leadership and
independence. You want to reach the end
of your senior year knowing that you’ve
done all that you could to prove to colleges
that you have a passion for learning and
that you have meaning and purpose.
22 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Lesson 3: Apply, apply, apply. It may
be tiring, but it’s well worth it. You never
know what your chances are until you take
them. Even after applying to one college,
it doesn’t stop there. There is always a
chance of rejection, so you should
definitely have a back-up plan. Make sure
to apply to more than one school (at least
three or four). Even after that, you must
apply for scholarships, grants, and FAFSA.
There are several sites that can help you,
close. You don’t want to be that last minute
person, scrambling to get their act together
last minute in the hopes to redeem him/
herself. To avoid falling behind, build a
strong foundation, and work your way up.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that it’s
impossible to climb the mountain that is
high school; after you graduate, you will
be relieved, and the cycle will start all
over again as senior year comes to an end.
College
Survival
Guide!
By Ka Zoua Vang, HmoobTeen Editor,18, Minneapolis, MN
P
erhaps you were the high school class president
or a member in the honor society; or perhaps
you will be graduating in the top percentile of
your class and may even be a valedictorian.
Regardless of your high school success or
lack of it, the key thing to remember is that the start of
college means the start of a clean, new academic slate,
independence and critical decision-making phase of your life. The
decisions you make and the actions you take during your first year
of college will have a major impact on the rest of your college
career and your life. The transition from high school to college
and how successful it will be or not, will be based not on who you
were or what you did in high school, but what you are going to
start and continue doing to keep advancing.
As I reach the end of my first year in college, I would like to pass
down a few tips on how to survive or do well in college. Many
of you may have heard these before and if it is one that you’ve
heard before, pay particular attention to it because if it’s repetitive, most likely you’ll make the same mistakes.
that really helped me get by this was just going to class an hour
early regularly to review my notes and catch up on assignments.
Different methods work for different people so try a couple of
things including, disciplining yourself to study at a quiet library,
going to professor’s office hours or even creating a study group
with friends.
4
Strive for good grades. While good grades came naturally to
me in high school, I finally felt that I had to earn them in college. It required me to be much more dedicated, get tutoring help
as much as possible, meet with my professors, and create study
groups as well as no procrastinating. The academic coursework
in college is definitely much more challenging than in high school
because it moves at a fast pace, requires elaborate, higher-level
thinking skills and a deeper comprehension level.
1
5
2
6
Get organized. In high school, my teachers guided me through
my assignments and set due dates as the class progress.
But in college, my professors would post up a fixed schedule of
the whole semester with the assignments and due dates and just
expect me to be responsible for completing and turning them on
time. I had to be quicker and diligent on my time managing and
organization skills by actually writing down every due date in my
student planner and completing assignments a week ahead.
Go to class. Obvious right? But since attendance is not taken
in most college classes, skipping a class or two was tempting.
I had friends who started skipping a class or two, until it became
almost a habit. They would encourage me to skip class with them
instead and sometimes there would be things going on campus
that I’d rather be doing. But I did not fall into that trap and it
saved me a lot of trouble and money, because remember that you
pay for your education in college.
3
Make time to study. There were many times when I was tempted to hang out with my friends instead of study for a quiz or I
would rather be on face book instead of reading. Making time to
study in college is very crucial to do well in your classes. One thing
Be prepared to feel overwhelmed. There were many times
when I felt like college forgets that students have a life too
and that things may happen and come up unexpectedly. I’ve had
several family and work issues that came up various times in the
year that affected my academic life. Regardless, I didn’t let go
of my educational morals and goals. So best be prepared to
feel unprepared and even stressed at times, and remember that
you’re not the only one feeling that way.
Live on campus, but don’t get sidetracked or live at home, but
stay involve. I lived at home and I personally thought that it
did not alter my college experience in any way other than that
I think it would have been a great experience to live on campus
in order to really get involved in activities and get the whole college ‘feel’. Living at home really helped me focus on my studies
because I am not always hanging out with friends or catching a
free movie every other Tuesday night at school. However, living on
campus would allow me to get to know and utilize the school and
its resources but I would have to work hard to stay focus on my
studies.
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 23
Comics
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24 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Comics
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 25
26 / HmoobTeen Summer 2010
Summer 2010 HmoobTeen / 27
Kaj Siab Songs for Mental Health Wellness is a free compilation album created by Hmong American
Partnership with songs by Hmong-Minnesotan artists. The goal of the album is to increase awareness of
mental health and promote good mental health in the Hmong community.
The entire album can be downloaded at www.hmong.org.