A Turning Point

 

Aung Paing Soe Hein

March 19, 2025

ESL 100

A Turning Point

              My life has changed in good and bad ways since 2021. The military coup that changed my life had happened in Myanmar. The military took over the country from the elected government by force. On the first day of February in 2021, the military arrested the president and minister of states. They had been talking about election fraud as a reason, but they haven’t proved it until now. Then, they shut down everything like the internet and schools. It was a hard time for me to think about my future, and I felt like everything was going to stop including my education. I even went to a lot of protests against the military and tried to get my life back. Moreover, I lost my friend because the military used real guns during protests. Finally, I decided to come to the United States to start a new life, and there are a lot of effects that I had to face physically and emotionally since then.

                                                   

              Due to the army takeover, my life took a major turn on the first day February in 2021. After the military took over the country, I couldn’t go to school because a lot of protests had happened, and schools that were shut down because of COVID couldn’t reopen. Besides, the university that I attended also couldn’t reopen because many students, including me, gathered there to protest. Even after the military government tried to reopen the schools, they sent the army to the schools. My family told me that if the army was present in school, that place couldn’t be safe. It was the moment that my family and I started discussing letting me go to a foreign country alone. Coming to the United States became a turning point for me.

              Homesickness is something I never expected to hit me so hard. I still miss the familiar sounds of home, like laughing at family gathering and the smell of my favorite meals that my mother cooks. Even if I knew that it would be a good decision to come to the United States, I had deliberated for a long time. It took me one year to make the decision. When I arrived in the United States, I could feel everything was different. I had to do everything all by myself, including going shopping, doing the laundry and cooking. Every time something inconvenient happens to me in Chicago, I miss my hometown. Although I have tried to adapt, there is emptiness in my heart. However, there are many good experiences that I have seen in the United States.

              Arriving in the United States opened my eyes to see the different ways of the world. From my experience, I can see that the United States is a good place to explore many cultures. I have experienced a lot of culture shocks and aspects of culture that I have experienced since I arrived here, but seeing different concepts of lifestyle helped me change my major. Back in Myanmar, I was focused on computer science, but after I saw other people’s lifestyle, like personal creativity and what they are using and what they need today. I decided to change my major to graphic design because I think it would be better for me. The influence of the United States’ advertising, design culture, and animation film are attractive to me. The amazing animation videos and pictures of advertisement and film of the United States got my heart to follow this major, and Pixar Company has become my dream place to work for. Furthermore, I have gotten the chance to know about other people’s traditions that I have never seen or heard of before. These could be the good effects that I have had after moving here.

              Of course, leaving my country was a difficult decision, yet it was the right choice for my safety and future. Coming to the United States has given me many new experiences. On the other hand, I have to deal with homesickness, but I can also discover new cultures and opportunities. Even though I miss home every day, I have learned a lot about myself. I have been thinking about how my life has changed since I made this important decision. Although the transition has been challenging, I am pretty sure I will look forward to see what the future has in store for me. I believe that this turning point will shape me into a stronger and more independent person in the future.