"The rush of chattering girls in the halls, ringing of the late bell, and green plaid skirts are the typical mornings for a San Gabriel Mission High School student. But the excitement of being a part of a learning community where faith and friendship are central wasn't always part of my life. My name is (Julie) Suechu Eng Taing and I am a hard working student and zealous volunteer that has came a long way. I come from two completely different worlds: a world of Mission filled with integrity, character, motivation, respect, and in-depth learning, and a world of family-life consisting of hardships and struggles.

Essay Winner Julie Tiang from San Gabriel Mission High School is presented her award by Mistress of Ceremony Jovana Lara and Cardinal Roger M. Mahony.

As a child, I grew up in an atheist family where trust didn't exist and money was always an issue. At home, there was and still is nonstop chaos everywhere. Most of the time, the chaos would revolve around two big issues, which was either my family separating over money or who's responsibility it would be to care for my ill grandparents. Other times, it revolved around little issues, like the complaints about my grandmother who collected literally hundreds of water-filled Gatorade bottles. However, the chaos didn't exist because of my family's bizarre lifestyle but the influence of the Cambodian Civil War. The war changed my family's perceptions and gave my grandmother great anxiety because her sons died from dehydration.

As I grew older, I noticed the affects of those horrifying five years and how it caused hopelessness and greed. My family completely gave up. They didn't want to be happy anymore. They didn't believe in anything, anyone, or even themselves, especially my father. My father sees the world as a place filled with cruelty. "Sometimes you can't follow your dreams, Julie," my dsd would repeatedly say. "We're not those types of people who are lucky...so stop trying so much." Yet, I don't stop trying and I am a hundred percent sure that I will never stop working hard. I love doing my best and pushing myself because that's just who I am. But I couldn't have endured these hardships without the motivation of my school. Mission has taught beyond what textbooks can. My teachers push me hard because they believe in me and my friends encourage me even when I doubt myself. They've helped me mature into an enthused learner who will never quit and I am proud of it!

San Gabriel Mission High School has given me more than a Catholic education. They have given me a sense of community, support, and faith. Mission has taught me to believe in myself and in God. I have learned to embrace the experiences in my life, mature from those hardships, and help those who are struggling. The students and faculty at Mission inspire me to help others because they have taught me to never give up even through the months where I felt I couldn't make it and to love others even when the world seemed cold and lonely. My Catholic education is the driving force behind why I follow my dreams, why I love to learn, why I help others, and why I will no longer give up on myself."