A couple of days ago, I was having lunch with a coworker who is a minority.  We were discussing her new home and her big screen TV and how all her family wants to come over all the time to enjoy watching football games and other sporting events.  I asked her, “How is it that you have a new home a big screen TV and your parents, sisters and brothers don’t?”  Her answer led to a wonderful case study about how to be successful in this country.

She said that when she was in school, she didn’t know how to speak English and was never required to learn it in her English as a Second Language (ESL) program.  She mentioned how in high school people would laugh at her inability to read any literature written in the English language.  Finally, she had enough and decided to change.  She worked hard, learned English, learned how to read English and started performing better in her school work.  

She is now married and has two children.  She successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree and now has a professional job.  She is working on her Master’s degree and continues to be very successful.  Her expertise, thoroughness and hard work makes my job easier.  I constantly remind her and others about how important she is to the success of our organization.

The discussion continued as she shared with me how her parents and family are always hounding her to teach her kids her native language first and English second.  She said, “I tell them that I will teach my kids English first and our language second.”  She explains that she doesn’t want her kids to have the same experiences she did. 

As the discussion slowed down, I was amazed at her courage.  I was the chair of her hiring committee years ago.  I asked her, “Do you know why you got this job over other applicants?”  She did not.  I told her that the committee hired her because of her communication skills.  She had similar skills as other applicants but her communication skills were better.  The committee determined that it was easier to teach her any additional technical skills needed but that it was hard to teach people good personal and communication skills. 

Her personal decisions made during high school laid the foundation for her success.  What a wonderful example for others.  I’m sure her kids will also be successful.  She is a great case study of a successful immigrant.  She is also a very close friend.