Life Story of Emma L. Carson

From Cultural Revolution Survivor to U.S. Navy Veteran: A Journey of Resilience, Gratitude, and Service

Operations Research Analyst / Musical Artist / Song Writer

Greetings with love! I am honored to share my life story. If I had to summarize it in one sentence, I would say: “The United States gave me a new life, and I have nothing but endless gratitude for the freedom and opportunities I’ve been given.”

I was born in mainland China during the Cultural Revolution, alongside my younger brother and sister. My Chinese maiden name means “love China,” my sister’s means “love the military,” and my brother’s means “love people.” My childhood was far from normal. My father, an army officer, was often absent, while my mother worked long hours in a factory to support three children. By the age of four, I was changing diapers for my baby brother and caring for my sister. When my father passed away at fifteen, our financial security vanished. My mother worked tirelessly on minimum wage, often without support from relatives. Food and winter clothes were scarce.

I loved school and dreamed of attending university, but I had to put that aside to help support my family. I enrolled in an import & export trade school, focusing on English and Japanese, and passed national abacus tests for accounting. To save money for books, I ate only the cheapest steamed buns and endured bitterly cold winters in a hand-knitted sweater until a special school fund provided a jacket. Despite these hardships, I excelled academically, memorizing three English dictionaries, learning Esperanto, and immersing myself in music, dance, art, and poetry to escape reality.

After graduation, I worked for an import & export company and funded my brother’s education until he graduated from a top university—the first in our family. While working, I pursued night college and earned dual majors in English and International Business Management. I worked my way up to manager over nine years but without a pay increase. Eventually, in my twenties, I was told I was too old to find another job. The economy was harsh, and society was competitive and unforgiving.

I also endured personal trauma. I had three forced abortions due to restrictive family policies, leaving me with lasting grief, depression, insomnia, and fatigue. My ambitions were dismissed, and I struggled with a difficult relationship with my mother. I finally divorced, continuing to live with my ex-husband and extended family due to housing shortages.

Life changed when I attended an international Esperanto conference, where I met John, an American 29 years my senior. Despite distance and warnings, I fell in love. I immigrated to the U.S. in 2020, marrying John in Minnesota and moving to Wisconsin. The freedom and fresh start in the U.S. healed me. My health improved, my spirit revived, and I finally pursued my piano dream with John’s support. Life’s simplicity among Amish communities inspired me, showing me trust, honesty, and joy. Though I missed my son terribly, I stayed committed to building a better future for him.

Initially, I worked as a translator but had to stop because it triggered traumatic memories. I then worked in factories and as a certified nurse aide. At 29, I joined the U.S. Navy, scoring 98 out of 99 on the ASVAB, and served aboard USS Tarawa (LHA-1) in San Diego. During my service, I became a U.S. citizen, relinquished my Chinese citizenship, and received numerous awards: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Junior Sailor of the Quarter, and qualifications as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. I studied mathematics, physics, wrote poetry, and saved money for my university dream. After an honorable discharge in 2027, I reunited with my son, now fourteen.

I attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, pursuing triple majors in mathematics, physics, and education (later chemistry). My son’s visa was granted, and we were finally together. I earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees magna cum laude, received the 2010 AFCEA STEM Teachers Scholarship & Grant, and completed a Master of Science in Mathematics. My son graduated in computer science, and I earned teaching licenses in mathematics and chemistry, teaching at Western Technical College for three and a half years. I received the Phi Theta Kappa Gold Star Instructor Award in 2015 for impacting student success.

Driven by service, I joined Bonneville Power Administration in 2015, gaining broad technical, analytical, and leadership skills. I contributed to hydro power generation optimization, risk management, energy efficiency, and systems analysis, earning the Administrator's Excellence Award for Workplace/Technology Innovation. I continue to volunteer in STEM education and inspire the next generation.

Today, I feel a calling to serve humanity beyond professional accomplishments. I aim to spread love, hope, joy, peace, and beauty, inspiring others through writing, dancing, and music. My guiding principles are belief and persistence. I have overcome immense challenges by following my heart and pursuing my goals relentlessly, often inspired by my favorite mantras: “Where there is a will, there is a way” and “Easy day, every day.”

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Life Story of Emma L. Carson

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