Each time I visit Iran, I fall in love with it a little more - its crowded streets, old-fashioned markets, and simplicity. But, it is from that simplicity that I find my appreciation for my parents for moving to America. In Iran, there is a tyrannical government, fewer resources, opportunities, and a ceiling as to what I can do. In the United States, conversely, I can be who and what I want to be; the sky is the limit. To the Iranian people, “Amreeka” is a land of opportunity, a land of unlocked possibilities and freedom that I can explore. Despite the fact that I have been alone, I am grateful that I have been able to be free, struggle, and make my own decisions. I have always, and will continue, to strive to be my best because I feel that my parents deserve nothing less for their …show more content…
I disliked my skin, and so I disliked myself. From the moment I entered high school, I struggled with acne. It started off slowly at first, with a couple of whiteheads here and there, before becoming progressively worse. Whiteheads turned into cysts that would turn into scars, marking my face permanently. For someone who had never had issues with confidence, acne was devastating. I became increasingly self-conscious and felt people 's eyes burning into my skin whenever I spoke with them. With every passing day and every new pimple, my confidence deteriorated a little more. I felt hopeless for a while. I gave up on socializing, and instead stayed home and read skin care articles for hours. Fortunately for me, however, although I gave up on myself, my friends did not. They loved me, even the red splotches on my face, and never mentioned my skin. For them, my acne was a part of me, something that they had come to accept. They gave me the love I did not think someone like me deserved. They made me feel comfortable in my own skin