FRO 14 DTF

Chana Sitt

I can still picture her face; the fake smile of a woman who was crushing my dreams. My entire life I’d always envisioned my future at college. My parents practically drilled it into my mind. I was going to college. Now hearing her airy tone telling me the exact opposite sent chills down my spine.

In the 10th grade I was told by my principal, that I should not aspire towards higher education. That was not my role. My role was to raise a family, nothing else. I was suddenly the anomaly in the paragon of conformity. A jewish woman who craved more than a family, but a profession as well.

I knew then that it would be in my best interest to transfer schools.One that encouraged the education I wanted and could motivate me. It would be difficult, transferring in junior year (aka the hardest year of school) to an already challenging school. However, I realized that this difficulty would prepare me for the life and education I yearned for. It was no picnic. Arriving at 7:30 and leaving after 5:30. Coming home only to find tedious hours of homework ahead of me. But an amazing thing happened- I succeeded!

Life is almost like a needlepoint. At first all you can see is the back, a combination of stitchings that don’t look like much. But when you turn it around, you can see the beauty. How every stitch comes together to create a masterpiece. Likewise, now that I am in college I can see how every sacrifice in my life has helped me reach this point. Because I am already used to long hours and tedious work, college almost seems easy (so far.) I knew I would be a college girl, and here I am. I can’t wait to see where else life takes me!