Former refugee continues global classroom journey
Student makes progress with Gates scholarship
Xiong Her considers himself a student of the world.
Born in a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, raised in culturally diverse Milwaukee, studying abroad and speaking four languages, the 22-year-old should be well-suited for the career in international affairs he’s been working toward the past five years.
“It went by really quick, like they say, ‘In the blink of an eye,’” said the Gates scholar, who will take a giant step toward that goal Sunday when he receives his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University.
“It seems like my freshman year was so long and difficult, and all of a sudden I’m going to wake up Sunday and walk down that stage.”
Her, a graduate of Veritas High School, was one of 1,000 high school graduates in 2013 to receive a Gates Millennium Scholarship, which provides full tuition and room and board for their academic journeys toward a doctorate.
But Her’s journey actually began in 2004 at age 8 when his family arrived in Milwaukee, leaving behind the only life he had ever known — the 86-acre Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp about 90 miles northeast of Bangkok.
Aside from the physical differences — the vastness of Lake Michigan, traffic-clogged freeways, skyscrapers and homes of all sizes — Her marveled how so many ethnically and racially diverse people could end up in one place.
“I was amazed to see people from so many different cultures living here together,” Her said, adding that at the time he couldn’t tell the difference between English and Spanish.
“It was really mind-blowing.” Then there was the challenge of learning a new language.
“I’d try to think of an English word in Hmong, but if there was no word for it I’d have to think in Thai,” Her said, remembering fourth grade at Humboldt Park Elementary School.
“I met some Hmong students but they only spoke English.”
But Her persevered, excelling academically and enrolling in Veritas, where he became a participant in Marquette’s Upward Bound program.
“So I’ve actually been attending Marquette for nine years,” said Her, who majors in international affairs and political science.
Her spent his junior year in China, studying international business and economy, learning Mandarin and expanding the scope of his cultural competency.
“That’s what I love about traveling, meeting new people and making new friends,” he said.
The next leg of his journey will take Her to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. Someday he hopes to work for a nongovernmental organization that helps people who are displaced.
He also wants to teach, conduct research into refugee and humanitarian issues and ultimately work for the State Department and become a diplomat.
“I really enjoy learning about other cultures and languages and I want to inspire others to take the same steps,” he said.
“I want to encourage others to become global students and gain different perspectives.”