Roots
Coming from a home where the value of education, culture, and religion are immense, I reminisce on the love and sacrifices of my grandparents.
My grandparents, my papa and mama, Mohammad Yacub and Gafuran Khan left their homes and roots in Guyana to migrate to an unknown country for the betterment of their future and family. (pictures of grandparents, family, etc)
I grew up with the love of all my uncles and parents, but was raised and taught most things by my grandparents. They were as much my parents as they were my mothers.
My papa and mama always would tell me, Take your education, mark well, what is in your head no one could ever take….
Today, I stand proud in not only representing myself, but also my family as I am the first in my family to be completing my doctorate. Every step I take, I remember their words. They are my motivation and my resilience.
Coming from a country like Guyana, culture and religion are two necessities that every household values. Attaching education to that makes you standout. My grandparents ensured that their children were rooted in all three aspects and went further in demanding their grandkids to go above and beyond.
While my roots are grounded in Guyana, they have transitioned recently in motivating the youths of the Indo-Caribbean community. What has been instilled in me by my grandparents, I am trying to project onto the upcoming generation including my children.
By setting the bar, achieving my goals, and demonstrating confidence, I wish to be a role model to those around me. All of this would not have been possible without the love and support of my family, most importantly, my papa and mama.
Even though they aren’t here to share in my accomplishments, it is because of them, I am here.