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My Dad is a Janitor Jasmine Ku
My Dad is a Janitor
By Jasmine Ku
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“My dad is a businessman,” said the girl in front of the classroom. “My mom is a dentist, and my mom is a teacher,” said the guy next to her. As each student listedwhattheirparents’jobswere,myguttensed as my turn came closer and closer. I looked around nervously, analyzing each person’s words. Data analyst, project manager, designer, the list went on. I felt tension begin to well up behind my eyes, forcing me to cover my face out of embarrassment. A million questions raced through my head. “Should I lie or tell the truth? What happens if I tell the truth? Why shouldn’t I tell the truth? Will I be judged? Why do I feel embarrassed?” I paused and wondered as the last question rang in my head. I uncovered my face and took a deep breath in. I mustered as much powerandconfidenceasIcouldinthatmomentand looked at the 20 people in the classroom. “My dad is ajanitor,andmymomworksinalaundromat.”
My dad would tell me stories about working in a noodle shop, loading food trucks, chopping oxtails and making those chips that go in egg drop soup. Now, mydadworks as a janitor and doorman at a Chinese newspaper company. For all of my life, my momwouldbouncebetweendifferentlaundromats, wakingupat6a.m.andfinallycominghomeat11 p.m.Theymaynotworkidealorfabulousjobswith lots of money, but they work incredibly hard to keep me in college.
Image from Christine Almeda illustration
Freshman year of college, I heard the phrase “first-generation” for the first time. I didn’t really understand what it meant. It was simply a phrase andwithadefinitiontome.Aftertwoyears,I’dliketo thinkIfinallyunderstandwhatitmeanstobeafirstgeneration college student. Millions of questions and worries go through my head. Will my parents be working for the rest of their lives? Will I be successful enough in the future to support them when they’re old? Am I making the right decision with my life for them? Are they still happy? I don’t know the answers to these questions, and I won’t know until maybe another decade has passed. Sometimes, I feel guilty for procrastinating or doing poorly on an easy assignment. Since my parents are working so hard to make me happy, I should do my best so that their effortsdon’tgotowaste.
Nowadays, I don’t mind telling people what my parents do. If someone doesn’t ask, I won’t tell, but I won’t cover my face in embarrassment. Because of the work they have done and the way they have raised me, I can say that I am proud of them. I’m not afraid to say thatmydadisajanitor.
