Melissa Suon, 19, Cleveland
By Chris Seper
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)
Melissa Suon's mom gave her a start. And that was it.
Suon's mother paid $5,000 to send her then-16-year-old daughter to Grace College of Cosmetology. The rest is up to Suon, who graduated from high school last year.
She works about 50 hours a week at Best Cuts in Parma, bringing home $800 in salary and tips.
Researchers wonder how people like Suon will fare. Most new adults will navigate their twenties with financial support from their parents.
But Suon isn't worried.
"My parents are trying to get me to understand everything is not free," she said.
"And the world's getting worse. Don't moan about it. Do something about it."
Her parents emigrated from war-torn Cambodia about 25 years ago.
The oldest of four, Suon returned home about eight months ago to help her mother, who recently remarried.
She pays $100 a month in rent and covers expenses for groceries, a phone, car insurance and payments on a 1997 Toyota Camry.
Her mother offered to give her the family house. But Suon turned it down as soon as she saw a gas bill.
Is she saving money? "Yes and no," she said.
An unexpected medical bill for $500 recently drained her savings account.
Once her mother is settled with her new husband, Suon plans to get an apartment. Last month, she went on what was supposed to be her first vacation: camping.
"That wasn't a vacation," she said, laughing. She hopes to take a real vacation - a cruise - when she can afford it. Hopefully, about a year from now.
Suon's mother paid $5,000 to send her then-16-year-old daughter to Grace College of Cosmetology. The rest is up to Suon, who graduated from high school last year.
She works about 50 hours a week at Best Cuts in Parma, bringing home $800 in salary and tips.
Researchers wonder how people like Suon will fare. Most new adults will navigate their twenties with financial support from their parents.
But Suon isn't worried.
"My parents are trying to get me to understand everything is not free," she said.
"And the world's getting worse. Don't moan about it. Do something about it."
Her parents emigrated from war-torn Cambodia about 25 years ago.
The oldest of four, Suon returned home about eight months ago to help her mother, who recently remarried.
She pays $100 a month in rent and covers expenses for groceries, a phone, car insurance and payments on a 1997 Toyota Camry.
Her mother offered to give her the family house. But Suon turned it down as soon as she saw a gas bill.
Is she saving money? "Yes and no," she said.
An unexpected medical bill for $500 recently drained her savings account.
Once her mother is settled with her new husband, Suon plans to get an apartment. Last month, she went on what was supposed to be her first vacation: camping.
"That wasn't a vacation," she said, laughing. She hopes to take a real vacation - a cruise - when she can afford it. Hopefully, about a year from now.
3 comments:
I sympathize with you "SUON", but life in America could be worse and it could be a real culture shock to many others...Hang in there, and best of luck to all of you!
09/25/06
AKnijaKHmer
Keep your head up, if there's a WILL there will always be a WAY. Look at the struggles our families went through to get us here to America. We owe it to them and ourselves to make the best of our opportunities!
Drop by drop makes an empty vessel full. Keep up the good work, and you will be rewarded for your hard work. All the best, Suon!
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