In 2015, my family left Afghanistan to seek a better future in America. Leaving was not an easy decision for my parents. They had to leave behind their families, friends, home, and everything they had known. They left behind the people who raised them and the places they had grown up. Even though they were leaving a part of themselves, they made this difficult decision because they wanted to give their children rare opportunities that would not have been available to them in Afghanistan. They left before the conflicts in Afghanistan rose.
Starting over in a new country was not easy for my parents. They had to adjust to an unfamiliar environment, learn a new language, and find ways to earn a living. They also had to learn new policies and laws and take the DMV test multiple times just to get their driver’s license. Despite these challenges, they continued working hard to build a better future and create more opportunities for me and my siblings.
When my mom was nine months pregnant with me in Jaghori, she experienced a very difficult and dangerous birth. She lost a significant amount of blood and had to travel all the way to Kabul from Jaghori just to receive a blood transfusion. When my mother told me about her story, I realized how difficult childbirth can be when women do not have access to proper medical care and equipment. One day, I hope to use my resources to help fund hospitals in Hazarajat, Afghanistan, with better medical equipment.
My parents' sacrifices have also influenced the goals that I have for my future.
I am currently a freshman in high school, and I am working hard to stay on top of my grades because I want to make my parents proud. I want them to know that their difficult decision of leaving Afghanistan will be worth it. Their hard work motivates me to take advantage of the opportunities they have given me and work hard toward my future.
I hope to become an attorney, specifically an immigration attorney, because I understand that leaving your home and beginning a new life somewhere else is not easy. On my path to becoming an attorney, I will build my public speaking skills, study government, and join the debate team. My dream school is Harvard University because of its strong focus on law, and the university also has an Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program. I want to help families going through the same difficulties my family once experienced. I also want to continue helping my Hazara community, both in America and in Afghanistan.
