Personal Narrative: My Bankruptcy

Roughly seven years ago my parents had to file bankruptcy and lost both their businesses and potentially our house. I would come home to find auction papers taped to the front door because of home payments that had not been met. My parents were struggling financially and their economic hardships impacted my siblings and I as well—but not adversely. Because there was little money to go around, I had to focus on what was important, my education. My dad used his bankruptcy as a learning tool for me—he taught me that a solid education would prevent me from facing similar hardships in the future. Because my parents emigrated here from India in the early 1990’s with little education, my father worked labor-intensive jobs while my mother raised us. …show more content…
Personally, my parents’ awareness of who they are and where they come from transposed onto me. While my parents were in busy pursuing the American Dream, their appreciation of their humble beginnings was far from forgotten. As a first generation American-born Indian, I have had the privilege to visit my parents’ homeland (Punjab, India), to appreciate the luxuries I take for granted here. During a recent trip to Punjab, I met a boy, no older than six years old, going car to car selling books to earn money for his school fees. It compelled me to think of myself at that age and realize that the only thing I did was sell cookie dough for school fundraisers—even then my motivations were rooted in the prizes. The maturity of his age was astounding and forced me to realize that any fees I needed to pay were a signature on a check away. Experiences like these have enriched my perspective to recognize that individuals come from different backgrounds with different histories. Their experiences have shaped them into people different than myself. I work to appreciate these differences in order to evolve old perspectives into new. Moreover, I would bring these mannerisms to the Foster community to learn from the backgrounds of others. The diversity at the Foster School would enable me to grow from the experiences of others and allow me to share the cultural perspectives I have …show more content…
My parents were not able to attend college due to economic and political restraints, but have worked hard to give me the privilege to do so. I was motivated to not only go to college but also to excel for a variety of reasons, particularly because no one in my family has. From an early age, my parents have made me self-aware of my future; my education and dedication in the present will translate into future successes. Due to this, my family has always been supportive of my college education; in fact, my grandparents in India have also encouraged me to pursue a higher education, as the opportunity to do so was not easily attainable for them. College is a foreign concept in my family, and I have the privilege to deviate from the restraints people like my parents face, to explore a major in Business. Not only is Foster a highly reputable opportunity to grow and exceed in business, it is also a chance to act upon my parents ' support. The limitations on their schooling have pushed me to develop a strong work ethic and succeed in college. It is easy to take the higher education opportunities presented for granted, however understanding that not everyone gets this chance has driven me to work hard to pursue a Business