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« on: November 05, 2004, 10:50:10 PM »
if anyone could give me comments on this optional essay before i send it, i would greatly appreciate it.....i'm not sure if it strikes the right chord, or if its better to send nothing, let me know what you think. it's only a page, even though it looks longer than that here. thanks for your help
Growing up as an Assyrian has left me permanently scarred. But it is not the type of
scar you are embarrassed of because it was the result of hitting your head on the corner
of a table in front of a large group of people (I have one of those also); it is more
like a scar you earn from crashing your motorcycle. It is a unique scar, a scar I tell
stories about, a scar I am proud of. I have been a teacher for the past twenty-two years
of my life, trying single handedly to inform humanity about the cause of my scar. People
look at me and think I am Mexican, Greek, or just another terrorist without the turban.
I try and explain to people that the Assyrians are the Christian minority in Iran, but my
Christianity never seems to make me more acceptable. I am still an outsider. The
Assyrians as a people have been outsiders for generations. We have no country; we merely
migrate to foreign nations bringing with us little more than our traditions and our
language to form tight-knit communities. When discussing who the Assyrians are with
friends I have my own little speech prepared highlighting the contributions we have made
to the advancement of written language and mathematics, but describing the way it feels
to be of a nationality with no nation is never easy.
Having such a large close family has taught me to accept my responsibility to teach
the world about the Assyrian culture, history, and heritage. I am extremely proud of my
Assyrian ancestry, mainly because my grandmother has kept the Assyrian spirit alive
within me. My grandmother immigrated to this country at the tender age of 55, bringing
with her much more than just the ability to cook dolmades. She brought with her the
Assyrian customs and traditions once practiced in a village that lacked electricity. My
grandmother has kept these traditions alive, teaching her grandchildren the art of making
almost any dish have an authentic Assyrian flavor by adding spices like turmeric and
saffron. I have noticed that these Assyrian spices are reminiscent of the Assyrian
people themselves. These spices have a sharp, distinct, and powerful flavor that stands
out, no matter what they are mixed with. Like these spices, I have seen firsthand that
the work ethic, devout family values, and extreme loyalty almost inherent in Assyrians
stand out in American culture. I appreciate the differences between my cultures, but I
relish in bridging the gap. I will bring with me to law school a unique perspective – a
minority with no homeland, but with extremely strong roots and convictions. My culture
has provided me the traditional values and character necessary to make my grandmother
proud, but I look to the University of Michigan School of Law to provide me the tools
necessary to succeed in the legal field.
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