My background in life tells the United States Narrative of not only the "American Dream", but also the dark side of how substance abuse negatively affects family dynamics, and how one can rise above that. I was raised by my Iranian father who came to America in his late twenties after the Revolution in Iran. Both my parents had substance abuse issues, and my mother has been in and out of my life. My father had a lot of expectations of me around the house because I'm female, and in the Iranian culture, women take care of the house and cook. Having an older brother, I grew up with a lot of double standards. This became apparent when my brother was able to get his permit to drive when he turned fifteen, and get his license right away as well.
