TwenÂty years ago, Ron Her and 14 othÂer Hmong teens took a class to preÂpare for their move from a Thai refÂuÂgee camp to America. Then they scatÂtered across the UnitÂed States.
Some quickÂly reÂalÂized the class — some EngÂlish gramÂmar, some pracÂtiÂcal skills such as using a modÂern shower — had ofÂfered the most basÂic prepÂaÂraÂtion. But when Her, a Minneapolis phyÂsiÂcian, and othÂers set out to plan a reÂunÂion this year, they found the formÂer classÂmates had done reÂalÂly well for themÂselves.
"We've all tried to purÂsue the American dream as much as we could," Her said.
Her's class at the Phanat Nikhom camp might have been primed for sucÂcess: All camp youngÂsters took a test to gauge their EngÂlish skills, and the 15 were the highÂest scorÂers.
"We bondÂed reÂalÂly quickÂly," said Yang Xiong, anÂothÂer Minnesota-based graduÂate.
But the teens also shared a reÂsolve to beat exÂpecÂtaÂtions. Her startÂed as a ninth-gradÂer in WisÂconÂsin. His readÂing skills were at the third-grade level, and he had gapÂing acÂaÂdemÂic gaps. He reÂmemÂbers sleepÂing three or four hours a night on avÂerÂage: "I deÂvotÂed my whole life to studyÂing."
By his seniÂor year, Her was takÂing only colÂlege-credÂit classÂes. At EdÂiÂson High School in Minneapolis, Yang had a simÂiÂlar traÂjecÂtoÂry. He went on to earn a bachÂelor's in three years, serve in the Army National Guard and earn a docÂtorÂate from the University of Minnesota. He runs his own pharÂmaÂcy in Minneapolis.
The group is reÂunitÂing this sumÂmer in Las Vegas. As the classÂmates startÂed reÂconÂnectÂing this year, they found each had sucÂceeded in his own way: from carÂpenÂter to comÂputer whiz, from comÂmuniÂty leadÂers who ofÂfiÂciÂate at traÂdiÂtionÂal wedÂdings to some who yearn to reÂconnect with Hmong roots. Her's brothÂer, Peter, is a docÂtorÂal canÂdiÂdate acÂtive in state polÂiÂtics.
"We have a very diÂverse group," Yang said.
Mila Koumpilova • 612-673-4781