
A little bit over 14 years ago, I traveled over 8000 miles from Hong Kong to the United States to pursue my dreams (i.e. furthering my education). This wasn’t an easy decision not only because I didn’t know much English at the time, but also it was because I had to leave my families and friends behind. I had no friends or families in the United States. I also didn't know anyone at UNI, except my sponsor Dr. Christopher Edginton. In fact, I later discovered that there were actually only 3 students from Hong Kong, including myself, out of 12,000 students at the time. Oh yeah, I was alone, very much so.
I didn't know my wife, Mavis, then. Although Mavis is also from Hong Kong, we actually met here in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I later found out that she also came to Iowa as a high school exchange student the same year I came to the United States and then stayed on to go to college. We came here because our families both believe that
American education is considered one of the best in the world. If you decided to continue to read my post, please accept my apologies for my English.
I am not a good writer, in fact, I don’t really like to write or read.
I will tell you later that I almost got kicked out of class by Dr. Grammar.
Though, I love technology and my iPad.
So, please be patient with me.
I did not come from a family of great privilege or wealth. My father passed away in 1996 when I was 21, only six months before I left for UNI, leaving my mother to be the sole support of my family, which includes a developmentally disabled brother.
My late father was born in mainland China. He hardly received any education.
My mother was born in Macau. She loved attending school, but she had to drop out of high school because her family didn’t have enough money to support her and her 5 other siblings. They needed her to work to earn her living. However, my parents both understood the importance of education. Like many Chinese parents, they valued education greatly. And I knew they worked very hard and did everything to provide me with the support I needed so that I could afford a better education. They didn’t attend college not because they lacked the will, but only because they lacked the means and opportunities. When I found out that I would have a chance to study at UNI and in the US, I was very excited, very much indeed.
With great sacrifice, my mother and others encouraged me to attend UNI.
With the great support I received from UNI, my fellow UNI students, faculty and staff, I made it through my first college year (although I almost got kicked out of class by professor James HiDuke, aka Dr. Grammar). In 1999, I graduated, summa cum laude, receiving my family very first Bachelor’s degree. UNI also awarded me with a Purple and Old Gold Award for Meritorious Scholarship. I am very proud to be the first one in my family to graduate from college (i.e. a first-generation college graduate in my family).
UNI provided me with an excellent education and platform so that I could excel and achieve my dreams. I knew every day when I got up in the morning I didn’t have to worry about finding a shelter because I could count on the university apartment. I knew I didn’t have to worry about being sick because I could count on the health clinic here on campus. I knew I didn’t have to worry about not having sufficient fund to pay my next bill because I could count on the financial aids and assistantship provided by generous donors who support the missions of the University and those in need.
I decided to stay on to further my studies at UNI. In 2002, I earned my master’s degree from UNI. In the same year I also got hired by UNI and became a full-time professional and scientific staff member of the university. I also started my Ph.D. program at The University of Iowa the same year.
I considered myself a very lucky "young" man. I knew I could not have done all these without the essential support from UNI, my fellow UNI students, faculty and staff. I am proud to call UNI my new home and be part of the UNI family. I am forever indebted to UNI and my family.
Last December, I successfully defended my dissertation and I finally earned my Ph.D. last December. It was a mixed feeling, though. Caring for my disabled brother and the financial hardships had taken a huge toll on my mom’s health. My mom came to my last two graduation ceremonies at UNI, but not this time. She passed away just four months shy of my doctoral graduation. Though, my mom knew that I was going to graduate. I knew that she and my dad are very proud of my achievements, something they had worked so hard for, even though they are no longer with me, I know they are still watching over me.
I thought I am really done when I finished my dissertation. I thought I would never have to defend myself again. Unfortunately, this time, I was called upon to defend the education of my very own son.
My wife, Ying-Yan “Mavis” Njoo, and I were informed late Friday afternoon that our three-year-old son along with 25 other children of UNI faculty and staff members will no longer be able to attend the UNI Child Development Center by the end of June. This leaves us with insufficient time to find alternative child care that is of comparable quality, not to mention the fact that we are proud to be part of Iowa's Early Childhood Program of Excellence
(http://www.uni.edu/coe/news/coe-news/uni-child-development-center-featured-
article-naeyc-accredited-program).
The loss of two rooms has forced the CDC to make a difficult choice of which families they will have to let go, Head Start and UNI student families along with much of head start funding or faculty/staff who pay full tuition dollars. We were told that the classrooms are being consolidated to accommodate needs for Price Laboratory School. We were not given any other options or alternatives, but just two months to look for another child care service.
I am telling you all these only because I wanted someone to know that how much of a sacrifice my family has to make in order to afford me a good education. If I were in Hong Kong or China, I probably was not going to write this post because I knew nothing was going to happen. I probably would not even be surprised if this situation happened in Hong Kong or China because things got taken away from you all the times. Over there, education is a luxury, but not a necessity. However, I really could not imagine that this could happen to my son in the United States. Aren’t we supposed to be the world’s number one? Aren’t we supposed to have the one of very best educational systems in the world?
According to the ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers, “neuroscientists have documented that our earliest days, weeks and months of life are a period of unparalleled growth when trillions of brain cell connections are made. Research and clinical experience also demonstrate that health and development are directly influenced by the quality of care and experiences a child has with his parents and other adults….Early experiences set a course for a lifelong process of discovery about ourselves and the world around us. Simply put, early experiences matter.” I am not an early-childhood education expert, but it is so basic that even caveman knows it.
One of UNI goals is to be the leader in the state and nation in pre K-12 education. I really don’t understand how the University can achieve this goal by cutting the enrollments in its very own Child Development Center.

I feel so fortunate that my parents made the great sacrifice to send me to college. I frequently ask myself these questions: What is my priority in life? What are my goals? What legacy do I want to leave behind? I really didn’t know the answer until Harrison was born in 2007. My son is my legacy and he is the reason why I wanted to write this post. I will do my best to protect my son’s interests and his rights to a quality education. I firmly believe that this is the right thing to do.
I would like to understand the decision behind made by the R&D to ensure that interests and needs of all families involved have been thoughtfully considered in the course of making this decision. It is my sincere hope that such decision, potentially impacting a few dozen UNI students, faculty and staff and their children AND the mission and goals of the University, is to be made in a transparent and thoughtful manner.
Although I am no longer a student or employee at UNI, I really hope that I can still count on the University the same way that UNI can count on me for support.
Thanks for listening. I hope you would support our efforts in protecting the integrity of the CDC and the University.
Jason Lau, Ph.D., UNI '99, '02
Husband of Mavis Njoo and Father of Harrison