The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) is lending life-changing support to Asian-Americans.
Yuzi Li is just 19-years-old, but in the four years since she arrived in America, she has overcome the struggle of a lifetime. She spoke broken English, fell back in class and found few friends.
"I felt like, why am I doing this? Why did I come here," said Yuzi. "I kinda felt like I was alone.
Things began to change when her mom, a Chinatown waitress, and dad, a delivery driver, brought her to BCNC.
"I don't feel embarrassed when I tell them my mom is a waitress," she said.
At the BCNC, Yuzi learned English and all about American culture, even understanding slang. The center helps some 2,000 immigrants from China and Vietnam navigate new words and ways in a new world.
"We can relate, and at some point in our lives, we also felt alone," said Sandra Lee, Youth Program Director at the BCNC. "Because we looked different or we spoke different languages."
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Now, Yuzi is a student at Boston University on full scholarship after graduating at the top of her class.
"One of the reasons I work really hard is when I see how hard my parents work. Compared to their work, mine is like nothing," Yuzi said.
She knows it takes a team to achieve the American dream.
"We can get through it together," she said.
The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center offers programs for all ages, including adult education, family child care, and after-school activities. You can find more information here: http://www.bcnc.net/.
