impact, influence or even inspire you in any way, whatsoever? I believe this is a subject that has never been touched upon. So I'd like to hear your thoughts, views, and of course, any personal experiences that you'd like to share (if any).

For me, growing up with three other siblings (2 older and 1 younger) and being the third child out of the four of us, I consider myself very fortunate and blessed in many ways. Why? Because I have an older brother as well as an older sister whom I both look up to as my role models and not just role models but also as classic examples for what furthering your education can do for you. They've both inspired me to attend college and to obtain a college degree.

In my family, attending college is not a dream, but it's both a reality and more or less of an expectation that my siblings and I all happily acquiesced to. Education was emphasized simultaneously by both of my parents and strong emphasis was placed upon it as a threshold of the American Dream at least in my household of six.

So yes, the educational level of my siblings did positively impact and influence me on many levels because seeing my older siblings pursue a higher education fueled the drive within me to do the same. Not that it wasn't in my nature to do so, because it was too. However, they both inspired me to go above and beyond and moreover, I simply had no excuses to falter on this decision of mind either (the decision to attend college and obtain a degree) simply because I felt that they (my older siblings) who came to America at an older age than myself had it much harder than I did, faced so many more tough challenges than my younger brother and I combined, etc. and if they can obtain a college degree, then what's my excuse? You know what I mean? There was just no reason for not attending college or getting a degree. It was the plausible thing to do. I look back now and I feel that college was merely a simple breeze. So fun. So easy. And it was time well spent. Monetary value? Priceless.

It would be considered a sad shame and a terrible waste of opportunity if I and especially, my younger brother (the only one out of the four of us who was born in the U.S.) didn't take advantage of the free education that was offered here in America. America's colleges and universities are respected and renowned throughout the world. Many people in third world countries (and developed countries) throughout every continent across the entire globe would die to attend college here. Let alone, to receive an education here is and of itself a great blessing and honor. With all the readily available financial aid, federal gov't funded grants, need-based grants, scholarships, etc., pursuing a college education is not a dream anymore. During my day and age, college wasn't even a dream to begin with, but it was already set as an expectation. Everyone I knew that graduated from high school my year attended a 4-year university right after. It was considered a trend and the 'cool' thing to do among all my friends and I. hehe. And I'm most def glad it was too! No wonder, there's that saying, 'Choose and pick your friends wisely my child because you become who they are'.

I can't say the same for my older brother's generation because during his time, college was more of a dream than an expectation. Presently, a college degree is easily attainable and achievable by anyone and everyone. Being able to achieve the level of academic success that my older siblings have achieved before me feels great! Especially, considering that they had less to work with combined with much less opportunities, help, resources, etc. There was simply just no excuse for my younger brother and I not to do the same you know.

However for grad school, I was (and still am) on my own. I am the first in my family and out of siblings to pursue a doctoral degree. So it's challenging for the most part, but at the same time it's also rewarding. The funny part? Well, one of my older siblings is planning to go back to school to pursue a graduate degree in either Business or Law and is seeking advices from me (hehe) since I've been through the whole process first. It's cool when the roles reverse themselves considering this is the sibling that I idolize more than anything and that I looked up to since little.  I am always more than happy to help out my siblings no matter what, younger or older. That's what family is for right? I am also proud of each and every one of my siblings for working so hard to achieve what they've each achieved for themselves presently and to this day, we never compete nor do we get jealous of each other either. In my family, there were never any sibling rivalries at all. We weren't raise that way. My parents raised us to be supportive of one another, to love one another (though sure we have our little fights here and there, but I'm sure every family does) and to always help each other out during our good times and during our bad times because blood is always thicker than water. 

How about YOU?

 I don't know why my post got posted twice.  Weird!

I can't really relate since I'm the oldest child but the fact that both my parents have college degrees made going to college mandatory and not an option. I do strive to match their educational level if not surpass them.

I agreed with you regading "siblings inspired" in pursuing higher education. If you are the oldest your inspiration may be your parent and that what inspired me to get my college degree. My parent are both teacher, I hate teaching (or becoming a teacher) from when the KR took my father away to their re-education camp (we still don’t know where they took him to and where he die) but no matter what job I choose to do, I end-up teaching, I can not escape teaching, it is a curse (I think). Anyway I have 5 siblings: 3 sisters and 2 brothers.  For me college degree did not come easy. I took college courses at night and work to pay my way through during the day and when I graduate I earned that degree, I did not realized how much that degree meant to my brothers and sisters in term of inspiriting or being as their role model.  They all committed themselves to do better than me and better than me they achieved, My sister (2^nd) got her MBA and has her own successful business, my brother (3^rd) is an M.D. and is the most sought after Surgeon, my sister (4^th) also got her MBA and running a very successful business with her friend and my youngest brother, after spending many years in school as a “Professional Student” finally got his PHD in April of 2007…My other sister is so smart but no money, she has 3 degrees (Chemical Engineer plus 2 MBA)...

Thanks for sharing, Sui. I can't imagine what it's like being the eldest sibling, but I'm sure you're handling it just fine.

Wow, very impressive. I'm glad to hear that your siblings are all doing very well and are all very successful. That's awesome. It takes great determination, patience and perseverance to pursue a college education, but you have to even be more highly self-motivated to go beyond the bachelor's, and especially for the doctorate, it takes great self-discipline, self-motivation coupled with unwavering diligence. Everyday is a challenge and struggle for me, but I love it though. And I know it will pay off once I complete my program.

I'm sure your parents must be very proud of all of you. I'm sorry to hear about your father. That's awful. I think you should opt for a career change if you are greatly dissatisfied with teaching. What do you teach? K-12 or college level? Just curious. I'm sure for you being the eldest, you must have faced a lot of pressure growing up than your younger siblings and not to mention, sometimes because you are the eldest, your parents will place more responsibilities onto you and expect you to set the standard, bar and/or a good example for your younger siblings. So to that end, you are a role model for them whether you realize it or not. To this day, I still look up to my eldest brother. Thank you very much for sharing about your family background.

I'm proud of you for paying your way through college out of your own pocket. For me, I was spoiled (but I earned it though) and had everything paid for by my school and through my full ride scholarship award. However, I wholeheartly believe that often times, those who pay their own tuition are much more grounded and take school much more seriously than say those whose tuition are all being paid for by their parents. So good job!!

Follow up:

Thanks MJG,
I 'm not a teacher and I have no intention to become one; however I still end-up teaching more or less.  Years ago when I was a Med Tech (Medical Technologist) I taught “Point of Care Testing” to Doctors and Nurses, at Private Doctors office and Health Centers, I got tired of it and stop (point of care testing involves test performs at the doctor office such as: Blood sugar level testing, Step –throat testing, Urinalysis etc., I switched my career to work in Information Technology, there I worked as “System Integration Engineer”, my job is to make two different systems  talking to each other using my company proprietary software, I specializes in Cardiology Systems Integration (Cardiology Management Systems, Electrophysiology Laboratory Systems, Hemo-dynamic Monitors, Cardiopulmonary Systems and Patient Monitors), I like my job but guess what I am mostly doing right now?
I can not win it is in the blood |O|
Anyway I admired you and your ambition, I would like to see many more Cambodian seeking higher education all the way to PHD level like you and at the most prestigious schools in the US, the more Cambodian devoted to seeking higher education the merrier.

In my family, academic studies are not our strong points. My older brother never finished school and like an inspiration he was, I used him as an excuse to dropped out of school myself! But fortunately, my brother has a special innate understanding with computers. He is now a Computer Engineer at MIT and what happens to me you might ask? After all, i am the main character, the protagonist in this awe inspiring story! Like the old saying "The apple never falls far from the tree", there must be some sort of computer geek code in our DNA. I am a network operations engineer and hopefully one day i would like become a Linux System Administrator. I must admit though, I've always had/wanted to follow my brother's footsteps and become a geekier geek then he is.

Please enlighten me. How does one become an engineer without any degrees? Doesn't becoming an engineer require at least a b.s. in some sort of engineering field? I know that the field itself is very broad based. All my friends who are engineers (both females and males) all have college degrees in the field of engineering. How is it possible to become an engineer without a degree? It doesn't make sense to me. I know certain professions don't require one, but I've always thought that to be an engineer, you'd need an engineering degree, no? That's like someone becoming a doctor without an M.D., or a lawyer without a J.D. or a professor without a Ph.D., or a teacher without a teaching credential, etc. It's impossible. Sorry, I'm not doubting you or anything, but trying to understand the possibility of becoming an engineer without a degree. I know school isn't for everyone and not everyone will take the educational route or pursue it, which is perfectly understandable, but I do know that for certain fields, school is required or at least at minimum, a degree is required.

 Did you and your brother drop out of high school or college? You didn't specify.

In the fields of Information Technology, work experience and knowledge plays a bigger role than a college degree. You can start off as a desktop support person and slowly work your way up to a systems engineer. Schools does not initiate or simulate real life computer distaters as they cost companies thousands of dollars. I'm sure the majority of the seniors in any I.T company does not have a degree. My brother dropped out of college his first semester and I left college in my 3rd semester. We both pursued our industry certificates and worked our way up the ladder. For those who want to pursue a career in IT, i suggest getting a few IT certs and get your foot in the door.

Oh okay, thank you very much the clarification. I appreciate it. I guess there are loopholes then for engineers working with or in the field of I.T. I know that with certain professions though, there are no loopholes at all. For example, since I want to teach at the university level at a renowned four year university in the United States, I must have a doctorate degree which is what I'm working towards at the moment. There are no open-ends on that. Anyway, I'm glad that you and your older brother have made it successfully thus far, without a college degree. Congrats! 

My sister, four years my senior, dropped out of college during the fourth year to pursue her dreams of being a business owner. I respect her for her decision and ambitions but it was not a path I took myself. I was not as courageous or as individualistic as I like to deem myself. Instead, I dutifully went to college and received my bachelor degree.

To answer your question, yes the educational level of my sister did impact me. When she dropped out, she knew what she wanted to do. When I stayed in school, I realized I was there because I did not know what I wanted to do. And sadly, I still don't.

Thank you for sharing, grapefruit.

Don't worry. You're still young. You have plenty of time to do some soul searching even after college to discover your passions in life. Everyone works at a different pace. Some are born knowing what they want to do since birth and others spend the rest of their lives trying to seek out what their purpose is and at the same time, figuring out their passion (s). No matter what, just don't give up and if possible, try different hobbies or perhaps volunteer if you can because by trying out different things, you'll be able to get a feel of what it is that you enjoy doing most in life and then from there, you will (eventually) discover what your true and hidden passions are. For example, maybe you might discover that you enjoy working with people (good fields to go into are public service, health service, etc.) or maybe you might start developing a love for numbers (good fields to go into are business, finance, perhaps become a math teacher, etc.) or maybe along the way, you might start to enjoy planning/designing things (good fields to go into are interior designing, urban planning, architecture, etc.). In no time, you will begin to figure out what it is that you want to do in life, but just don't rush yourself okay. These things do take time. Best of luck.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I just haven't found my true calling in life or maybe I don't have one.

In college, I worked as a case worker for the Khmer community. The social service field is just not my cup of tea. Too much drama and politics for me. With my BA in English, I now am working in finance.  We'll see how that goes.