#asu barrett

[asupibetaphi]

[catastrophecks]

My Honors Thesis

During the Spring 2015 semester, thinking about what I wanted to do for my thesis, I decided to focus on Lao refugees in America: Their time in Laos during the war, making their way to refugee camps, emigrating, initial experiences integrating into American society and culture, where they settled, their lives up to this point and reflections about their experience.

The decision came when I was looking to write a story for my news writing class. I wrote about the Lao New Year’s festival in May, and a Buddhist temple an organization in the Phoenix Lao community were planning to build.

I regret that it has taken this long to become interested, but it’s not too late in life. My parents are alive; they were always working but, now, I and they have time to talk.

I am ethnically Lao, but I am culturally American. I don’t speak any Laos, I don’t know the significance to many of the customs, and I don’t know the story of my parents’ difficult path to this country. This thesis will be a way for me, primarily, to learn about my heritage, the culture and a generation of Lao refugees.

There aren’t many high profile documentaries or books about Laos’ involvement in the war. Most popular stories in this country take the American perspective: the anti-war protests, portrayal of military perspectives, veteran perspectives. Each glossing over the human beings who had nothing and wanted nothing to do with the aristocracies’ political ideologies. 

The people who died and dispassionately called “collateral damage.” The people who die, still, today, from undetonated American cluster bombs left over from a secret war. Farm lands infested with dormant death––waiting for fathers, mothers and children. What’s the American perspective for these stories?

Well, I, as an American, want to add to that perspective.

[hauntedbymysorrows]

I was thinking of applying to Barrett Honors College. Do you have any tips for applying? What was your GPA?

When I applied for Barrett, I had a 4.0 unweighted and a 4.83 weighted. I would say the biggest thing Barrett looks for in a candidate is the personal essay.

However, I would not recommend Barrett. It’s not worth the money, it’s just ASU trying to milk our more profits. The friends and connections I made in Barrett are the only positive things I got from the honors college. The opportunities I have had are all because of the personal projects and research I’ve done outside of class.

Whatever you choose to do, best of luck!