Thirty-five years ago, my father left his home in Iran for a better life in the United States. Living on his own at the age of fifteen, the only way he could support his bills and keep his dream alive was to forgo an education and work.
Twenty-two years ago, my mother was still in the suppressed nation of Iran. Women did not have many rights; she never had the chance to go to college. On top of that, as a Persian Jew, she was not accepted in her society, yet was not allowed to leave. She had to go through great lengths just make it to the United States.
Fast-forward to the present and my family lives in a cozy, suburban home in gorgeous San Diego. My parents work hard every day to keep providing the life they never had while my siblings and I just try to do our best not to get into too much trouble.
I got through high school with perfect grades by following their guidance, and now I’m here. There are books all over my room, and I am not even talking about our required readings. Notebooks sprawled on the floor, opened to random pages, scribbled with notes. Pencils all over my desk, waiting to be sharpened until they no longer exist.
Everyday same routine: my alarm clock goes off, I wake up, shower, put on some clothes and promptly make it too class. I will never miss one; my parents never got the chance to. All I try to do is make it through everyday, doing my work to become the first in my family to earn a college degree. I look to take on some loans and go to graduate school, probably business, but there is no rush. They had no time; their paths were forced upon them by necessity. As for me, I just take my time, step-by-step. Six years of college is only a small price to pay in comparison to the thirty plus years my parents worked to give me this opportunity.
Why do I do what I do? Because I believe it is my duty to take advantage of the opportunities my parents never received. I have the chance to reap the benefits they worked for.
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