Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore the lives of eight academically successful Hmong female high school students. These Hmong female high school students had the opportunity to tell stories about themselves and their lives with regard to their education, their traditions, and their acculturation process toward their new lives in the United States. They provided knowledge and insight to understand their perceptions and values. Additional explorations included the extent of acculturation of these academically successful Hmong female students into the mainstream American society. Key findings. (1) All eight participants live in a crowded house or apartments in poorer sections of Fresno, California with several other family members. (2) Most participants have entered into the "daughter-in-law" practice where they move into their in-laws' home and assume the majority of the household responsibilities. (3) All eight participants were married in traditional Hmong cultural weddings. (4) Parents of the participants who have learned English have found employment and are removed from receiving social security income. (5) Hmong New Year is still an important yearly celebration for the participants. (6) Most participants continue to use a shaman when a relative or child is ill. (7) All eight participants have grade point averages of 3.0 or better and consider themselves to be academically "successful." (8) All eight participants "like" or "love" school, are eager to learn new things, attend high school full time while balancing a life at home with husband, children, and family responsibilities. (9) All families in this study faced tremendous challenges in Laos from the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Many suffered from the trek from their homeland to Thailand to wait for a period of time in a refugee camp before immigrating to the United States. (10) Most participants have a parent or in-law that receive income from social security. (11) All eight participants made some major adjustments of their lives to a new family after marrying. (12) All eight husbands speak Hmong and English, are older than their wives, and support their wives educational pursuits to at least some degree. (13) All eight participants gave birth to their first child while still in their teenage years. (14) All eight participants have Hmong friends that provide support, guidance, and role modeling to the participants. (15) Only one participant is a member of a church. (16) All eight participants are "refugee" or come from a "refugee family." (17) Learning the English language was a difficult challenge to all eight participants. All eight participants speak English while at school, and mostly Hmong while with family. (18) All eight participants felt "scared" or "very scared" upon entering an American school for the first time. (19) All eight participants wish to enter a junior college or a four-year college after graduation from high school. Recommendations for further study. (1) A longitudinal study of the eight participants to determine if they attended and graduated with a college degree. (2) A replication of this study within three to five years to determine if there are additional Hmong female high school students who are married with children and are on-track for academic success, and if the findings from the replication study are similar to findings from this study. (3) A study to determine if other female high school students from other refugee families have findings similar to findings from this study. (4) A historical study to document the lives of the Hmong who were born in Laos, traveled to Thailand, and finally immigrated to countries like the United States.