By BONNIE CHU /HONG KONG

s Mulan looks up at the stubborn arrow, she knows she is not going to give up. She owes it to her family, her country and herself to get through these hardships no matter what. Courage, family values and determination are all prominent themes touched upon in this film, themes that any girl would find appealing.

Mulan follows her heart to leave her family, even though she knows the result could be death, either from the attacking Huns or as punishment for disregarding the Chinese law against female participation in war. Along with her courage, Mulan had her family to help push her through troubled times.

Family values are very important in Chinese culture. Bringing honor to one's family is imperative, and Mulan wants to do that above all. She loves her family and tries hard to bring honor to them. When she is not accepted by the matchmaker, she feels that she is not worthy of her family. Leaving them to save her father from certain death shows her love and dedication to him and her mother.

Mulan also shows dedication to her country, herself and her goals. The training for the war takes so much hard, strenuous work that she often cannot keep up with her male companions. When Mulan is ordered off the training team because of her weaknesses, she knows she cannot leave. She stays up all night climbing a tree to reach an arrow that no one else could. When she reaches the arrow, Mulan gains acceptance back into the team and a new-found confidence.

Also, when Mulan's true sex is revealed, she is immediately abandoned. Even though she feels she is treated unfairly, she still goes back to the captain and the army to warn them of the Huns' approach. She displays true heroism and dedication, and in the end is rewarded.

Although the story is dramatic, it kept me laughing with the hilarious dragon, Mushu. But most of all, Mulan and her challenges made me yearn for her success, and when she reached her goals, I felt her joy as well.

As a Chinese girl, I can relate to Mulan and her troubles. In many Asian cultures, women are regarded as less important than men. But Mulan encourages women to follow their dreams and let nothing hinder them. She pulls through in the end as a true "she-ro" for the army, her family and her culture. The film has a lesson for those who want to follow in Mulan's footsteps: that nothing is impossible for a girl if she sets her mind to it. Mulan struggles to win respect, not only for herself but for women of all times.

Bonnie Chu, age 13, is Hong Kong-born Chinese studying at Dallas Middle School in Texas