By: Kaiping Han

Thirty years ago today, on January 6, 1988, I stepped onto a plane bound for the United States, carrying little more than a suitcase and a heart full of dreams. It was a day that would divide my life into two halves—the past I was leaving behind and the unknown future that lay ahead. For more than two years, I had toiled relentlessly, overcoming hurdle after hurdle, passing exam after exam. It felt as though I had traversed a battlefield, breaking through five barriers and vanquishing six generals just to arrive at this moment of departure.