To buy my family a home

I am a child of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. I was born poor, and what little I had was taken away by the Tsunami – family, friends, and my home. I was 9 years old. I remember standing at a mosque where they had the body of my father. I was holding my little sister’s hand, worried how to explain this. Many people helped us rebuild, and I learned disaster can bring opportunities through the kindness of others. When I was 17, I had the good fortune to come to America for education. I completed high school and received a degree from South Seattle College. My visa expires in December, and I have no choice but to return to the poor village where I was born. On top of this, the Sri Lankan government is taking away my home to expand the Chinese harbor. I feel like I am going back to where I started and wasting my good fortune. To continue progressing, I need to buy a house in Colombo where I can get a job, support my family and have a chance to pursue my dream. My dream is to use my experience from being in America to help my country progress.