Family Heritage Research Paper

Heritage, the roots of one’s background, is a major underlying factor that influences and defines the person one becomes. The heritage of a person allows for context of how and why an individual is where they are today. Through this piece, I will delve into my family heritage to discover how and why my ancestors came to the United States of America. In order to further understand more about my heritage and where I come from, I interviewed Ms. Katie Nguyen. Ms. Katie Nguyen is my mother who resides in Tempe, Arizona and is also my oldest living relative. To begin, my mother is a Vietnamese national who grew up in a family who relied on agriculture as a means of survival and income. She also grew up during the Vietnam war which resulted in her family of nine fleeing to Cambodia where they sought asylum and refuge until the war was over. When the war ended, Ms. Katie Nguyen’s family returned to their village to find the fields and water beyond repair from the aftermath of chemical warfare of the now illegal and

Katie Nguyen, I came to discover facts and stories about my mother’s journey to the United States of America that I had not known before. In addition, I was also able to come to an understanding of how the elements of my mother’s heritage and history have affected and led me to where and who I am today. To demonstrate how my family heritage has played a role in my life today, I would not be an Arizona native had it not been for my aunt who went to college at Arizona State University. Furthermore, I would not be an American citizen had it not been for my mother’s family seeking a better life and to chase the American Dream. Moreover, I would not have the opportunities or be able to recognize or understand my privilege to the scale I can, had my mother’s family not immigrated to the United States of America. It is truly fascinating how family ancestry and history can impact and mold where you are and the values you hold