Undergraduate / "between America and Saudi Arabia" - family history, culture or environment [4]

My Family history and culture has a huge influence in who I am today. I have two very different backgrounds, which includes lifestyle, food, culture, religious beliefs and so much more. My dad is from Saudi Arabia and my mom is from America, I like to consider myself half and half.

Traveling back and forth between America and Saudi Arabia made me appreciate the way of life and helped me understand more about people and their differences and similarities. I am able to communicate, connect and socialize because I understand each of their culture. Seeing two different cultures has helped me become the person that I am. I have always been exposed to those who are different than me and I have found that I respect people no matter where they are from. I enjoy meeting new people from different countries around the world.

I speak two languages English and Arabic, both fluently, but English is my mother tongue. Even though I went to an all Arabic school through grade 1 to grade 7, I was the only one out of my 5 siblings raised to speak mostly English. Therefore, in grade 8 my parents decided to have me live in America with my mom in Hudson, Wisconsin, but for my high school years I've decided to come back to Saudi Arabia and enroll in a school that follows the American system.

My family environment made me into a more passionate and successful student by supporting me and gaining my confidence to succeed in a risky journey. Now I want to take advantage of my confidence and use it in pursuing my education and to perform well in all my classes no matter the difficulty. Taking pride in my work is the most important influence resulting from my family atmosphere. The overall relief and joy that I will experience when I graduate will not be matched anywhere else.