These holiday reflections and gratitude come from a year filled with change, challenge, and meaningful connection. As I look back, I feel thankful for our community, our clients, and the people who shape our daily work.
Holiday Reflections and Gratitude From Our Office
Dear friends and colleagues, happy holidays. This is the second year without our annual “thank you” party. I miss seeing many close friends, colleagues, and clients at our office. For years, I traveled four days each week to visit our other offices. That stopped in March 2020. Since then, I have come into our Cleveland office every day. It has been wonderful to return to my old routine. I tried working from home during the first days of the pandemic, but I struggled with distractions. Some colleagues have worked remotely with success, but most have returned to the office.
I spent the past year and a half reinventing our office and our workflow. I also redefined the meaning of “work” in today’s fast‑changing immigrant world. Our firm faced turnover and worker shortages this year. It was eye‑opening to advertise, interview, and hire new staff. I learned that money alone cannot maintain a talented workforce. Despite these challenges, we continued doing excellent work. We won cases and added meaning to the idea of a “win.”
Understanding the Shifts in Immigration Work
Immigration work has become more nuanced and difficult during my 45 years in the field. No meaningful laws have changed since 2001. Green card quotas have remained the same for 50 years. Immigration courts opened and closed without notice due to pandemic policies. Cases ready for hearing were canceled. Others scheduled far in the future were suddenly advanced. We rushed to gather updated documents for clients. I have not seen this level of fear in our clients’ eyes until recent years. Their fears are real, and I can feel their energy. Our staff also faced challenges. Single parents struggled with school closures. New and expecting parents faced limited childcare options. Sick children were sent home, and someone needed to care for them. These pressures affected our business, productivity, and clients. It is not easy to be a working parent today.
I am so proud of our clients. I watch them grow through hard work and entrepreneurship. Those with work permits, driver’s licenses, and social security numbers are thriving. Many started with nothing and are now filing tax returns and building stable lives. I respect them deeply. The world has changed. People passed away without insurance. Others left underpaid jobs or lost work because they lacked papers and resources.
Family, Memory, and the Meaning of Home
My siblings and I have nine children and six grandchildren. None of our grandkids live in Cleveland. This Christmas will be the first time they all come home with their parents and dogs. I cannot wait. I feel sad that my husband Kam and my parents never met the grandkids. But I know they are watching us and giving their blessings.
This year, I received three awards in Cleveland: the Outstanding Philanthropist Leadership Award, the Cleveland Heritage Medal, and the Cleveland State University Law School Hall of Fame. I am honored and humbled. I send you my warmest wishes during this holiday season and the coming new year.
Sincerely, [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″]
If you need guidance with your immigration journey, reach out to our team for steady, trusted support.
A Personal Letter of Holiday Reflections and Gratitude
Dearest Dad, When I was younger, I believed everyone over 65 had reached their goals. From that perspective, I had a long way to go. You used to say that a child cannot imagine spending $10 or 10 years. Back then, survival was the destination, and hard work was the path. Guidance was limited when I first came to the United States. Choices felt like a rock and a hard place. When panic rose, I heard your whisper: “Don’t think; just do. Don’t veer. Keep going. You’ll get there.”
You were my North Star through the toughest terrain. If I knew then what I know now, I might have avoided risky paths. But I would not be who I am today. Life is not a zero‑sum game. Wrong turns led me to people and places I never expected. I gained insights no school could teach.
Mistakes became tools in my growing toolbox. Now, in what feels like a blink, I find myself north of 65. The long‑imagined “there” is nowhere in sight. Ahead, I see forks in the road and no signs. The roads seem smoother, but my vehicle needs more repairs. Still, the road calls, and stopping is not an option.
Armed with your guidance and my toolbox, I know I can choose any road. If I take a wrong turn, I can keep going and see what awaits. Maybe one day I will reach “there,” wherever that is.
This is the 25th year without you at Christmas. I imagine you and Mom preparing a beautiful celebration with loved ones. I find comfort in that, but I still miss you as much as the day you left.
Your third daughter, Rose Christmas 2021
Holiday Greetings from [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] and from [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] sister, Rose Wong.
