by Ryan Subong

Created on: August 12, 2010

The American dream has been the most elusive dream for most Asians. For Kim, her dream is far from being in a limbo. She had high hopes for making it in the US. She is waiting for the results of the board exam. Passing in the board exam would be her passport to enter the US territory.

She felt jealous about those close friends of hers who now got to have “lucrative” income as nurses in the foreign land. The diaspora seemed to have made her want to hasten the realization of her dream.

When the names of the passers were released by the national daily, Kim was attending to her sick mother. The only parent she had since she was five years old since her father left them for reasons still obscure.

Kim received a call from Anne, a friend of hers, telling her she passed the board exam for nurses. She did not know what to do that time. Her mother was bed ridden while she just received a news of her passing the board exam.

“I still have one great news for you.” Anne continued.

“What is it?” Kim asked.

“You’re a topnotcher! You ranked first in the board exam. Congratulations!” Kim was elated with what she heard and just looked above and thank God.

She went to her mother’s bedside and told her about it. Kim was in tears. Her mother wiped her tears away and said,

“I am so proud of you Kim.”

Kim’s mother felt so lucky about having her for she had been a university scholar and graduated on top of the class. Her intelligence, hard work, and dedication propelled her to where she was.

Kim processed the documents for the oath taking in three-week time. She had to leave her mother despite her ailing situation. The oath taking came. Her mother was supposed to attend the ceremonies but was then not feeling well. She left home all by herself to get inducted into the nursing profession.

She went home late in the afternoon and was shocked to see her mom on the floor. There, she lied lifeless. Just when she went back, her mother left home. Right there and then, she realized that seeing her mother alive was the most ambitious dream she had. It was not the American dream,

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