The Skunk River Review - DMACC

We qualified, and they said we passed and will go to United States. Now I understood
why my father said to take care of only me, because my sisters were growing up, and I was the
baby. It was so hard to leave our family, my sisters and their kids behind. Two weeks before
leaving for America, my mom had two heart attacks, but she got better and we left.
Coming to United States was something amazing for me; I imagined I would have
everything: television, kitchen, living room, my own room, mom’s room, bathroom plus go on to
high school. First getting out of the airplane, I smelled fresh air and saw a clean airport of
Waterloo. I did not know where I was going or how it would look. But when I saw good and nice
people and a clean environment, that made me feel safe, and it was almost like my father was
there to protect me. Walking in to our apartment and seeing all these things I would never had if
we stayed in Bosnia, made me so happy. My mother began to cry. She was happy to see me so
exited in a long time. Then on our new kitchen table, I saw nice, beautiful, yellow and green pears
like my father used to bring us from the woods. Only then, I did realize that he was not coming
back, and that my father was really gone. Life still had to go on.
A few days later my mother had to have surgery, and the doctors said that if she did not
have one she would die. Another advantage of coming to America was saving my mom’s life.
Since her surgery, her health has been just great. I had to do everything; caring for her, cleaning
the house, paying the bills, and working every job possible. I first did some detaseling, then
picked strawberries, worked in a nursing home, as a waitress, baby sat, cleaned people’s houses,
and more. Even today I do all of this. But in return, I matured much faster, and grew up as a
strong and good child.
Although I do all of this, my mother is still head of the house and tells me what to or what
not to do, and I truly respect that. So this is where I grew up to be a good person. But if my mother
did not care for what I do, she would not be a big part of my life now. I would have turned out to
have bad grades and wouldn’t be able to go on to college. In my family, not just my sisters, but
other relatives, I am the first person who has successfully finished high school and gone on to
college. If my father were here, I am sure he would have been proud of me.
I grew up in a household that not lost a father, but the only man in the house. Being
raised by a strong, smart and strict mother, I turned out to be a one smart daughter and a strong
girl. Losing my father has made a big impact on my life, but it was all chosen by dear Lord, and I
just follow it. Today I just keep being the best I can, and keep hoping that my father is in heaven.
My mother has never remarried and always says that he’s still her husband, and he is in her heart
xxxviii