Chapter 16: Once Upon a Time (There was a Balanced Life)

In 2010, my journey as a doctoral student began. It felt like yesterday that I arrived in the United States, trying to figure out how things are done, because everything was almost entirely different from where I came from. But it was all exciting to me.

After years of working, I finally achieved what has been my biggest dream since I was still an undergraduate student. To study in the United States. It was my father’s dream too, since he never finished his college education. In our family, my sister and I were the first generation to get a college degree, and I was the first to get a Master degree. I was 16 when my mom died, and since then my dad became a single parent to my sister and me. I had seen how my dad worked, how he valued integrity and perseverance. Those were the best examples that taught me to work hard and work right. My father is always supportive of his children to pursue education. However, as much as my father wanted his children to get the best education, he could not afford to send us overseas. But, he never gave up on his hope and has always been supportive of mine as well. Then, in 2010 with a Fulbright scholarship, I came to the United States.