We are in the kitchen that is radiating with the kicks of turmeric, subtle hints of paprika, and the explosion of masala. All those ingredients are used to describe this person. The whole peppers, drenched in the broth, sliced onions browning at the bottom of the pot, both make my eyes water. She is what you would think of when you hear “tradition.” She is from Pakistan being the youngest of four, following in their footsteps, including moving to America several years later. She states her opinion as the right opinion. She doesn't want or need anyone’s help in trying to “succeed.” 

This is a hard working, single mom, with three children. She thinks that God has given her a hard life because God doesn’t like her; however she is given the life of making it in her own way, starting from nothing and rising to the top. Given the chance she would take the easy way into life and be born into a family of wealth. She is blessed with three children whom she hopes will become successful and wealthy so she can have her dream come true.

She hopes for a lot of things, most do not come true, but she truly believes that her children will be something one day. She answers the questions with utter truth while stirring a vat of some sort of concoction that warmed up the kitchen as she kept stirring. She didn’t want to be where she is right now; she wanted to become a pilot growing up, but sadly didn’t make her dreams come true. 

She instead studied computer science and got a bachelor's degree in it. She moved to America for her bachelor’s degree and said “once I moved to America it was like a whole new world to me.” She was not used to a world that is full of technology and bright artificial lights. She soon found her way with her brothers, sisters and dad. They told her to go to school here in something that she is interested in, hence the degree in computer science. 

After she was all done with school in America she found her love here as well; she has been married to him ever since; however, the . Making her way out of college she needed a place to settle down. She first decided to go with her lover to his home, but the neighborhood in which he lived, which she thought, “was full of deadbeats and good-for-nothing people who gave up and think that they are fine the way they are right now.” She told me that one time when she was in that unsettling place of a neighborhood someone had jumped onto the hood of her car and dented it, that was enough for her to leave and find somewhere else to live. 

Although her car had been jumped on, scratches on the exterior, and a funny smell on the interior she enjoys having it, but sadly it is left in a garage getting power, waiting to become alive once again. She has had that car for more than 16 years; she wants to get it fixed for her daughter who is about to start driving soon. For now though, she drives a Honda Odyssey because her other car wouldn’t fit all her kids comfortably.

She did some looking and the first place she found was in Springfield, Massachusetts. Later on, she did not enjoy living there because she had bigger plans in mind. She decided to move again, and again, and again, and again; she kept trying and trying through blood, sweat, and tears to fulfill her children’s future while still putting on a bright face. She found her way back into Massachusetts, but in Wilbraham this time.

She now lives here with her three children and works two jobs to sustain them. She works at Randal’s farm where she has great co-workers who are friendly and welcoming to every customer that walks through the door. She also works in TD bank where the co-workers are also nice but are usually “young people who have this job just to quit a few weeks or months later because they have something big that they are going to do.”

She tried her best during the beginning but later on she dodged the ditch of hopelessness, sadness, and anger and made it to the home of hope and happiness. The person I interviewed is my mother, Sophia.