The Hmong: a human resource transition

Abstract

The Hmong are an ancient people, but their Diaspora has proven them to be an adaptable people. Change does take time and for the Hmong high school graduates change has placed them between two worlds. One is of the ancient third world country of their ancestors and traditions. The other is a world based on a fluctuating economy, where access to success is gained through literacy and education. Their generation is a pivotal one that can aid this ancient people with acculturation into the United States community. The purpose of this research is to study the 1992, 1994 and 1996 Hmong graduates of Wausau East and West high schools. The study will look for relationships among the graduates to find any post-secondary trends, employment plans, encouragement of family and clans in their educational plans, and the citizenship status of the students and parents. Assimilation can cause a loss ancestral traditions so the study will also look at the graduate's knowledge and retention of their native language.