My parents saved a lock of hair from each of their children’s first haircuts and had them turned into calligraphy brushes. According to my mother, she started this tradition because she hoped to keep an original part of us, like our very first strands of hair. She chose calligraphy brushes as a symbol, hoping to bless each child with a successful education. Thinking back, my parents really did do whatever they could to provide us with the best resources for our education. They moved my siblings and I into one of the best school districts in the country. They worked tirelessly to fund our extracurriculars, from music lessons to sports equipment to science competitions. Today, the calligraphy brushes sitting in our living room display case are a symbol of my parents’ deep commitment to our education and a reflection of the sacrifices they made to help my sisters and I succeed. -- JH

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant