Daughter of Immigrants Earns Degree fromDakota State University
LenaKaur never imagined that she would be walking across the stage ofDakota State University to receive her degree in computer science. Asthe daughter of immigrants, Lena faced many obstacles on her journeytowards higher education. However, despite numerous setbacks andchallenges, she persevered and finally achieved her dream ofobtaining a college education.
Lena'sparents came to the United States from India in the early 1990s withnothing but the clothes on their backs. They settled in a small townin South Dakota and worked hard to provide for their family. Lena wasborn a few years later and was immediately immersed in a culture thatwas vastly different from her parent's homeland.
Growingup, Lena always knew that education was important to her parents.They constantly reminded her of the sacrifices they had made to giveher and her siblings a better life. However, Lena struggled to findher place in school. She was often bullied for her heritage and herstruggles with English as a second language. She felt like anoutsider, a feeling that stayed with her throughout her childhood andadolescence.
Despiteher difficulties, Lena was determined to succeed. She worked hard tolearn English and spent countless hours studying to improve hergrades. When she graduated from high school, she knew that collegewas her next step. However, her family's financial situation made itdifficult for her to pursue higher education.
Lenahad to come up with creative ways to finance her college education.She worked part-time jobs and applied for scholarships and grants.She also took out student loans, knowing that it would be a burden onher already struggling family. However, Lena was driven by her desireto make her parents proud and determined to succeed.
AtDakota State University, Lena found a sense of belonging that she hadnever experienced before. She was surrounded by like-mindedindividuals who shared her passion for technology and desire forhigher education. Lena threw herself into her studies, staying uplate into the night to work on projects and studying for exams.
Despiteher hard work and dedication, Lena faced many obstacles on herjourney towards obtaining her degree. She struggled with impostersyndrome, feeling like she didn't belong in the classroom with herpeers. She also faced discrimination and microaggressions from someof her classmates and even some of her professors.
However,Lena refused to let these setbacks define her. She sought out mentorsand support systems to help her navigate the challenges she faced.She also found solace in her faith, which gave her the strength andcourage to keep moving forward.
Finally,after four long years, Lena walked across the stage to receive herdegree in computer science. Her parents were in the audience, tearsstreaming down their faces with pride. Lena knew that this moment wasnot just a triumph for her but for her entire family. She was atestament to the sacrifices and hard work of her parents, and theirunwavering belief in the power of education.
Lena'sstory is a reminder that with hard work, dedication, andperseverance, anything is possible. Despite the obstacles that shefaced, she never gave up on her dreams and refused to let thechallenges define her. Lena's achievements are an inspiration toother young people out there who may be struggling to find their way.She is proof that even when the odds seem stacked against you, youcan still overcome and achieve greatness.