In paragraph 28 of “The Good Immigrant Student”, Nguyen says “I would like to make a broad, accurate statement about immigrant children in schools. I would like to speak for them (us). I hesitate; I cannot.” I believe what she means by the “broad, accurate” statement that she wants to say is that not all immigrant children want to stand out. Throughout the entire story, she describes how she just wanted to be left alone, stating “I wanted to disappear. I was not brave enough to shrug my shoulders and flaunt my difference; because I could not disappear into the crowd.” For her, it was difficult to fully assimilate into the world where others see her as a different kind from them, something her step-mother wanted for her and her sister. This would apply to many other immigrant children, some being very shy and never opening up to teachers or other children, and bring afraid to speak. However, she is not really able to make this statement because she is not the type to be rebellious. For her, being the rebellious type of person required to have a sort of bravery, something she repeatedly says throughout the story that she does not have. Furthermore, after saying that she cannot and that she hesitates to say this, she also talks about how her sister was more of the rebellious type, disliking school and “choosing rebellion rather than silence.” in way that feels like Nguyen is comparing herself to her sister to further show this.

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