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And young Hmong already in college or in the work force want to throw open more doors for both the parents and students, dispelling the older generation’s long-held belief that true success in chasing the American dream is attainable only in medicine or law.
“In this sense, Hmong children are limited in their planning for their future,” said Lawrence University freshman Nkaujzouapa Lor. “If we want to make our parents proud, do we all need to become doctors and lawyers? What if we want to work with the environment? What if we like fashion and art?”

With that in mind, careers and higher educationwill be the focus Saturday of an education conference designed especially for Hmong families.

About 300 parents and students from Appleton Area School District and surrounding communities are expected to attend the fifth annual event at Madison Middle School.

The conference is a testament to how far the Hmong have come in pursuit of careers and education in recent years.

An ally of the U.S. in the Vietnam War, the Hmong had to flee their homes in Laos as refugees after the conflict. After several years spent in Thailand camps, they began resettling in this country, including the Fox Cities, in the early 1980s. The last wave of Hmong refugees began arriving here in 2004.

“We do this because we want Hmong students to be successful in pursuing education,” said Ger Vang, school district special |education/cultural support specialist and conference co-chair with Kia Thao, Hmong student cultural support specialist. “We believe education is everyone’s dream and we want Hmong parents and students to be able to access any available information that will enhance their

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20100319/APC0101/100319001/1003/APC01/Conference-helps-Valley-Hmong-students