Importance of Education for Us by Sakshi Patil

 Importance of Education for Us

As a first generation student in America, I understand the importance of education for me and my family. One of the main points I want to express today is the gratitude and understanding people should have for their current lifestyles. I came to this country of dreams and opportunities when I was a year old, but many of my friends came along even later. Many kids undermine the sacrifices made by their family and neglect all the hard work they put in. However, as life goes on, it's a never ending learning process. Every day you grow even more mature than the previous and learn new things.

When my parents moved to America, they thought they achieved their highest dreams. They thought they accomplished the most that they could in this one lifetime. Their sacrifices are a part of who I am and will always be present throughout my life in every step. Everything that they have accomplished is in their life their ceiling. It's the roof of their great victories. Moving to America, starting this new life in this country of dreams was their big hit. However I don’t intend that to be mine. Where my parents left off, is my floor. It’s my starting point and my accomplishments should only further exceed whatever they have done. Many people nowadays don’t truly understand the importance of their family, or figure it out too late in life. While neither one of them is entirely their fault, it’s a process of going through life. A process in which we realize who we should hold our time and efforts in and who not. Which is why I truly hope that whatever I do in my life only adds onto the ladder my parents have climbed. 

When you're a first gen student there are countless problems and obstacles you face. Whether it is you not being able to find your place or you not knowing what to do next. Many of the elder siblings in this generation have had to do everything by themselves. They don't have any assistance which causes them to tackle all their problems alone. College, common apps, essays, there's no way you can fully depend on someone from a completely different country and education system to know everything about America. This is one of the main reasons why so many of our elder siblings are forced to do everything on their own. They create this dependency on themselves and aren't able to ask others for help either in the future. However, even through all these challenges people face, we are still able to persevere through and do more. We try our best and attempt to do as much as we can to get better. I'm so thankful for all the people in my life but more so i'm grateful for all the lessons and teachings that i've learned through all the processes. So for everyone reading, I just want you to know that you're doing a great job, and this is only a stepping stone for you!