It is hard to find words or write a piece for your child when she has put in the work, done the right things, and taken care of her family
Nazarul Islam
Own it…
It is hard to find words or write a piece for your child when she has put in the work, done the right things, and taken care of her family. She never forgot her fast, aging parents. Everyone here in family was asked to write their thoughts on the cards on the table, seal them and send them to her a week before Graduation Awards Ceremony in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Being Anam’s father, I could not write something because ONLY two words came to mind regarding my accomplished college graduate: OWN IT.
Your Mind: Own It. Just because you have an “education” does not mean you are educated. I have met “educated” people from MIT and Stanford who were literally functioning as confused individuals. I have met janitors, hairdressers, and truck drivers in life who were brilliant. The average woman, in the US, lives to be 82 years old. You have many years to go. Go back and reread books like “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “The Great Gatsby”, War and Peace, The Plague and Wuthering Heights. Then, you will realize what brilliance is. Stay informed. Use the media. Read a self-help book. Consume everything about your career. Make informed decisions. And, if you argue know your stuff. Don’t stop.
Your Heart: Own It. Keep it open and protect it. Always be quick to open it but know it will get bruised, broken and hurt. Don’t let that close you off and become someone in 20 years who has become bitter. A closed heart takes away someone’s kindness, sincerity, generosity and, truly, the ability to love someone in return. Always open it but know when to protect it.
Your Soul: Own It. You are a child of loving and caring parents. The have all worshipped and bowed down before the Creator. And, you found that relationship on your own. Have a daily discussion with him. Let nobody get between you and your Creator and Savior. That is yours to own, forever. And, that is the one phone call that will always be answered and never go to voicemail (Like your Dad!)
Your Failure: Own It. The difference between “great” and “good” is failure. NEVER BLAME SOMEONE FOR YOUR FAILURE. Own it. It will teach you strength and wisdom.
Your Success: Own It. BLAME EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUCCESS and never forget you cannot accomplish great things alone. Humility is the greatest sign of strength and wisdom.
Your Path: Own It. You walk your path and if you are walking your path, you will never be at fault or in the wrong. Don’t live a linear life and think you have to do things society thinks you should do. And, people in your life will walk beside you if they love you. Ask your Ammi about this lesson, which is one of the greatest I have ever learned. I walk along a path with her, and she with me.
Your Family and Friends: Own It. You owe your family nothing for being alive. Granted, your family will come to your rescue and you to theirs but ALWAYS remember it is a two-way street. Your friends, they will come and go but always remember those are special bonds you select and CHOOSE, but remember it is always a two-way street. I think that between your siblings, your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and your circle of friends, you have a bunch of people who collectively OWN YOU.
Your Name: Own It.: You are my child and I OWN YOU. You are my daughter. You represent the family of Ali Imam and Nazarul Islam. To most people, they wonder what an average name, like Nazar means. Here is what that means: We drip with sarcasm. We make fun of ourselves. We have a twisted sense of humor. We laugh uncontrollably at life. With that said, we are hard.
We get hit and we get up, always. We are passionate. We love unconditionally. We have manners. And, most importantly we are kind. Own your name and know your grandfather, who gave me my name, would be proud that his name is represented well because you are the
FIRST child who has proudly owned the name of ISLAM and RAFI to graduate as PhD in Healthcare Admin., in our family.
(Anam Rafi, writer’s daughter, has graduated her PhD Program at Virginia Lynchburg University, USA. Yesterday, she was awarded her Degree at a Convocation)
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The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his articles.
