Nineteen years ago, a newly wedded couple fled Africa and came to the United States seeking religious asylum. However, in order to do this, they had to give up a large, pre-furnished house, a wedding gift from my grandmother, and look for a small apartment in the most inexpensive place they could find. After months of searching, they were able to afford a studio apartment. Although they had college degrees from universities, they were unable to utilize their degrees because of the language barrier. As a result, my parents pursued careers with the United States Postal Service and the Los Angeles Sheriff Department in an attempt to make ends meet. Vividly aware of my parents' situation, I wished to ease the financial burden of raising two children and supporting my grandparents.
My world consists of waking up at 6:30 a.m., going to school, heading to my part-time accounting job at 2:30 p.m. and then, finally home to study at 6:30 p.m. Occasionally when I come home from work, my mother and I would go for a walk before dinner. Watching the sun peacefully set as we walk enabled us to talk freely about our problems. These conversations drew me closer to my mother; and, although our opinions still differ, we are better able to talk through our disagreements and come to resolutions easily and calmly. .
This acquired maturity is not only a product of school and upbringing, but also of my part-time job. My job helped prepare me for life in the "real world" in many different ways. It shaped me: I learned to develop an excellent work ethic, to meet deadlines, to interact with different people in a professional manner, and to deal with the occasional rude client, even when it seemed impossible. Most of all, I learned responsibility, time management, and good teamwork. I am fortunate enough to keep a job that I enjoy and taught me life lessons. These lessons are ones I know will not only make me a successful University of California student, but also a successful professional.
