Lee Ying missed his parents, it was his first time away from his home in Queens. He was anxiously starting the first day of his college career at the prestigious medical program he worked tirelessly to get into. He sat through hours of lectures on organic chemistry and bacillus bacteria, waiting for the day to end. Exhausted, he finally came back to his dorm room, picked up his prized guitar, and started strumming. He’s always loved music and received the beautiful acoustic guitar from one of his close childhood friends. The soft music gave him life and he soon integrated it into his college routine. He would go to school and finish all of his work just so he could spend more time making music with his guitar and creating songs. After a month of repeating this process, he realized that producing melodious sounds from his instrument is what brought him most joy.

Lee began to hate his classes and started to cut them. Lee Ying decided that he wouldn’t become a doctor but become a musician, even though it would break his father’s heart when he inevitably found out. His strict father was Wang Ying, a poor farmer from Guizhou, China. Wang came from a very long line of impoverished rice farmers but immigrated to America with the love of his life right after marriage to earn a better life. Wang’s wife just had his only son, Lee, before he used all the money he had to bring his family and himself on a flight to the land of

opportunity. To provide for his family, Wang worked in a car factory for countless hours a day. He didn’t enjoy his job, but forced himself to endure it for his young son.

Wang had always wanted to become a doctor himself, but couldn’t afford the education. This unfulfilled career goal drove him to pressure Lee into becoming a doctor. Lee didn’t know what career he wished to pursue entering college, so he submitted himself to Wang’s expectation to make his father proud. Wang made every effort to get his son into a medical college, even spending his well-earned money for high school medical programs.

Lee packed all his belongings in his dorm including his guitar, and took the subway back to Queens, back home with an unsuspecting father. He deduced that telling his father his decision to drop out of college and pursue music in person would be optimal for this awkward situation. How could I betray my father like this?, Lee thought.

He returned home and opened the door, he decided he would wait to unpack until after revealing the motives of his future. It was a wet day, as it had been raining hard all day. But as he opened the door, the storm was quickly replaced by gloriously bright yellow rays and a brilliant rainbow.

“Hi dad,” Lee quietly said as he made his way into the living room where his father was reclining on the old La-Z-Boy sofa while reading the local newspaper.

“Hey son! I’m very surprised to see you here! Welcome, welcome! How are your classes? How’s college?” Wang joyfully questioned in a thick Chinese accent and broken English.

“About that dad…,” Lee’s voice trailed off.

“What happened son? Is everything alright?” Wang worryingly interrupted.

“No, everything is not alright. It’s just that…  I don’t want to be a doctor. I’m sorry I let you down dad,” he shamefully mumbled.

“It’s okay son, it’s okay. I’m sorry I pressured you to become a doctor. I came here and worked so you can have a better life than I did, and I thought that meant becoming a doctor. I thought it was the best option for you, but I was wrong….I’m so sorry son for not listening to you and what you want. I’m proud of you, and that has never, and will never change, Lee,” Wang slowly said as tears ran down his cheeks.

“I love you dad,” Lee embraced his father tightly as he sobbed.

After the reconciliation between the father and son, Wang asked:

“So son, what do you want to do with your life?”

“I want to be a guitarist.”

A gleaming smile appeared across Lee’s face as a bright tulips bloom in the spring.

“That’s great Lee… I love you. I support you.”
That was it. Lee was starting his music career. He understood that it would be very difficult, but he knew it would all be alright, because he was doing what he loved, and his father was right beside him.